Needle-point pen apparatus and methods for marking and/or creating articles

ABSTRACT

Needle-point pen apparatuses and methods for marking and/or creating articles and objects. Other uses for the needle-point pen are also disclosed herein. Further needle, ink, and carriage control improvements are further discussed as well as marking and manufacturing processes. Further control, characterization and design parameters, components, and processes are disclosed. Methods for designing and manufacturing articles as well as collaboration between artists and article designers, including distributed and remote collaboration, are disclosed. New marking techniques, computer control, software, hardware and interactive techniques are further disclosed. And, designs and use of the needle-point pens are further described and illustrated.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This patent application is a division of, and claims priority to, U.S.patent application Ser. No. 14/872,167 filed Oct. 1, 2015 entitledNEEDLE-POINT PEN APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR MARKING AND/OR CREATINGARTICLES, the contents of which are hereby incorporated herein byreference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

Examples of marking tools include pencils, Crayons, brushes, engravers,rollers, chisels, pens, chalk, stacks of rocks, grinders, welders,branding, wearable marks/indicia, etc. Virtual marking devices includecomputer mice, keyboards, stylus, and touch pads often in connectionwith software and electronic digital models and images of tangiblearticles and maps, or topographic models, as well as virtual marking,manufacturing, meta-code, and image/model versions and revisions. Imageand digital models of shoes, bones, clothing, etc. includecomputer-based modeling software in connection with digital models, suchas point clouds and artistic designs, which can be transformed to atangible use or involved with digital and real-life creation of objectsand products.

A three dimensional model of any tangible real-life object can becreated. Attributes of that object can be assigned to image pixels,surfaces, and real-life characteristics. A bone may be brittle, a plantmay fluoresce chlorophyll, and art and roller-coasters may beappreciated. And, new tools are created for quantifying, improving, andenhancing objects' attributes.

Electronic, mechanical, and computer-related machines are also used tocontrol electro-mechanical marking and manufacturing tools. Examples ofmarking acts include painting, engraving, etching (e.g. cutting),chemical reacting, curing, branding, dying, stamping, covering,replacing, scarring, material deposition or material connection,treatment, scratching, hiding, deforming, bending, and/or other means ofmarking and manufacturing objects.

Material removal marking has also been used. For example, chisels havebeen used to remove material in a marking and/or manufacturing process.Clay has been used to form and make pottery. Clay can be dyed and cured.And, subsequently, a chisel or engraver can be used to remove cured anddyed clay to again expose the underlying undyed clay and itscharacteristics. Then, once again, a dye, ink, or paint can be furtherapplied to the newly exposed clay and/or previously dyed clay, ifdesired. Features, such as a handle for holding a clay pot, may also beadded to the pottery or a handle may be created by removing part of thepottery to create the handle.

Referring to FIG. 1, a conventional ball-point pen 100 markinginstrument is illustrated. The ballpoint pen 100, also known as a “biro”and “ball-point pen”, is a pen that dispenses ink over a metal ball atits point, i.e. over a “ball point”. The metal commonly used is steel,brass, or tungsten carbide. It was conceived and developed as a cleanerand more reliable alternative to quill and fountain pens, and it is nowthe world's most-used writing instrument: millions are manufactured andsold daily. As a result, it has influenced art and graphic design andspawned an artwork genre.

The concept of using a ball point within a writing instrument as amethod of applying ink to paper has existed since the late 19th century.In these inventions, the ink 115 was placed in a thin tube 120 whose endwas blocked by a tiny ball 110, held so that it could not slip into thetube 120 or fall out of the pen 100. The ink 115 clung to the ball 110,which spun as the pen 100 was drawn across the paper 125 or othermaterial, therefore giving areas of the ball 110 with its ink 115transferred to the paper 125 allowing for another (or continued) coatingof ink 110.

The first patent for a ballpoint pen was issued on 30 Oct. 1888, to JohnJ. Loud, who was attempting to make a writing instrument that would beable to write “on rough surfaces-such as wood, coarse wrapping-paper,and other articles” which then-common fountain pens could not. Loud'spen had a small rotating steel ball, held in place by a socket. Althoughit could be used to mark rough surfaces such as leather, as Loudintended, it proved to be too coarse for letter-writing. With nocommercial viability, its potential went unexploited and the patenteventually lapsed. The manufacture of economical, reliable ballpointpens as we know them today arose from experimentation, modern chemistry,and precision manufacturing capabilities of the early 20th century.Patents filed worldwide during early development are testaments tofailed attempts at making the pens commercially viable and widelyavailable. Early ballpoints did not deliver the ink evenly; overflow andclogging were among the obstacles inventors faced toward developingreliable ballpoint pens. If the ball socket were too tight, or the inktoo thick, it would not reach the paper. If the socket were too loose,or the ink too thin, the pen would leak or the ink would smear. Inkreservoirs pressurized by piston, spring, capillary action, and gravitywould all serve as solutions to ink-delivery, ink pressure, and flowproblems.

Laszlo Biro, a Hungarian newspaper editor frustrated by the amount oftime that he wasted filling up fountain pens and cleaning up smudgedpages, noticed that inks' characteristics used in newspaper printingdried quickly, leaving the paper dry and smudge free. He decided tocreate a pen using the same type of ink. Biro enlisted the help of hisbrother Gyorgy, a chemist, to develop viscous ink formulas/chemistriesfor new ballpoint designs.

Biro's innovation successfully coupled ink-viscosity with a ball-socketmechanism which act compatibly to prevent ink from drying inside thereservoir while allowing controlled flow. Biro filed a British patent onJun. 15, 1938.

In 1941, the Biro brothers and a friend, Juan Jorge Meyne, fled Germanyand moved to Argentina, where they formed Biro Pens of Argentina andfiled a new patent in 1943. Their pen was sold in Argentina as theBirome, which is how ballpoint pens are still known in that country.This new design was licensed by the British, who produced ballpoint pensfor RAF aircrew as the Biro. Ballpoint pens were found to be moreversatile than fountain pens, especially at high altitudes, wherefountain pens were prone to ink-leakage.

A tattoo machine, in comparison, is a hand-held device generally used tocreate a tattoo, a permanent marking of the skin with indelible ink.Modern tattoo machines use electromagnetic coils to move an armature barup and down. Connected to the armature bar is a barred needle groupingthat pushes ink into the living skin. Tattoo artists generally use theterm “machine”, or even “iron”, to refer to their equipment. There arealso rotary tattoo machines, which are powered by regulated motorsrather than electromagnetic coils.

The predecessor to the tattoo machine was the electric pen invented byThomas Edison and patented under the title “Improvement in Stencil-Pens”in Newark, N.J., United States in 1877. It was originally intended to beused as a duplicating device, but in 1891, Samuel O'Reilly discoveredthat Edison's machine could be modified and used to introduce ink intothe skin.

Tattoo inks are generally composed of pigments or dyes combined with atattoo pigment vehicle which entraps, encases, incorporates, complexes,encapsulates, or is otherwise associated with the pigment to formpigment/vehicle complexes that retain the pigment in the living skin.

Leather crafting or simply leathercraft is the practice of makingleather into craft objects or works of art, using shaping techniques,coloring techniques or both.

Leather dyeing usually involves the use of spirit- or alcohol-based dyeswhere alcohol quickly gets absorbed into moistened leather, carrying thepigment deep into the surface. “Hi-liters” and “Antiquing” stains can beused to add more definition to patterns. These have pigments that willbreak away from the higher points of a tooled piece and so pooling inthe background areas give nice contrasts. Leaving parts unstained alsoprovides a type of contrast.

Leather painting differs from leather dyeing in that paint remains onlyon the surface while dyes are absorbed into the leather. Due to thisdifference, leather painting techniques are generally not used on itemsthat can or must bend nor on items that receive friction, such as beltsand wallets because under these conditions, the paint is likely to crackand flake off. However, latex paints can be used to paint such flexibleleather items. In the main though, a flat piece of leather, backed witha stiff board is ideal and common, though three-dimensional forms arepossible so long as the painted surface remains secured.

Acrylic paint is a common medium, often painted on tooled leatherpictures, backed with wood or cardboard, and then framed. Unlikephotographs, leather paintings are displayed without a glass cover, toprevent mold.

Leather carving entails using metal implements to compress moistenedleather in such a way as to give a three-dimensional appearance to atwo-dimensional surface. The surface of the leather is not intended tobe cut through, as would be done in filigree.

The main tools used to “carve” leather include: swivel knife, veiner,beveler, pear shader, seeder, cam, and background tool. The swivel knifeis held similar to pencil and drawn along the leather to outlinepatterns. The other tools are punch-type implements struck with awooden, nylon or rawhide mallet. The object is to add further definitionwith them to the cut lines made by the swivel knife.

Methods and machines for decorating, manufacturing and/or assembling awearable leather article are also known. Examples of wearable leatherarticles include shoes, hats, pants, and jackets. Methods and machinesfor decorating, manufacturing and/or assembling a leather furniturearticles are also known. Examples of leather furniture articles includecushions of chairs, seats, sofas, and stools. And, other leatheraccessories such as bags, totes, covers, cases, etc. have been made anddecorated.

As disclosed herein, certain embodiments disclosed herein relate toneedle-point pen utensils for marking tangible articles. Other features,tools, and newly discovered benefits are further discussed hereinafterin the Detailed Description or would be understood to one of ordinaryskill in the art in view of the newly discovered and disclosed tools,methods, processes, control, and benefits discussed herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1, 2, 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10A, and 10B illustratevarious needle-point pen designs according to example embodiments of thepresent invention;

FIGS. 11 and 12 illustrate example of needle and ink control;

FIGS. 13, 14, 15, and 16 illustrate needle control and movement;

FIGS. 17, 18, and 19 illustrate needle-point pen carriages, movement,and positioning for two and three dimensional marking;

FIG. 20 illustrates components of needle-point pen control, componentsof a carriage and computer control of the needle, ink, and carriage;

FIG. 21 illustrates a computer implemented process for designing,marking, manufacturing, and providing articles to a purchaser;

FIG. 22 illustrates a stylus marking technique computer learningsensor/tool; and

FIG. 23 illustrates functional modules associated with needle/inkcontrol and article digital modeling and design components.

DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS ILLUSTRATING THE INVENTION

The embodiments discussed in this description are illustrative ofneedle-point pen apparatuses and methods for marking and/or creatingarticles and objects. Other uses for the needle-point pen are alsodisclosed hereinafter including medical, data storage, andidentification. Further needle, ink, and positioning carriage controlimprovements are further discussed as well as marking and manufacturingprocesses and further control, characterization and design parameters,components, and processes.

FIG. 2 illustrates a needle-point pen 200 according to one embodiment.This needle-point pen 200 includes a needle 205 that linearlyreciprocates or oscillates within a barrel 210. The barrel 210 is aguiding support for the needle 205 to oscillate along a length of thebarrel 210 and/or within the barrel 210 as shown. A cross-sectionalshape of the barrel 210 can correspond to a cross-sectional shape (e.g.circular, elliptical, and/or square) of the needle 205. As shown, theneedle 205 can also have a length such that oscillation of the needle205 extends a distal end (or point) 215 of the needle 205 past a distalend 220 of the barrel 210. The end 215 of the needle 205 that extendsbeyond the end 220 of the barrel 210 can be angled relative to adirection of reciprocation, include a contact tip and/or be relativelysharp or relatively dull as compared to another needle.

A distance of reciprocation 225 of the needle 210 can be described by astroke 225 of the needle 205. The stroke 225 of the needle 205 can beassociated with a translational oscillation amplitude. This stroke 225can describe a distance between a location of the end 215 of the needle205 at a retracted position and a location of the end 215 of the needle205 at an extended position. The extended position can be a “fully”extended position and the retracted position can be a “fully” retractedposition to which partially extended and partially retracted positions(“fuzzy positions” or “intermediate positions”) may be defined therebetween.

An oscillation of the needle 205 can be a repetitive variation, e.g. intime, of some measure about a central value (often a point ofequilibrium) or between two or more different states (e.g. an extendedposition and a retracted position of the needle 205). The term‘vibration’ is used to describe mechanical oscillation but used as asynonym of ‘oscillation’ too but may be defined by extent of movement ofthe needle 205. Familiar examples include a swinging pendulum andalternating current power. Oscillations occur not only in mechanicalsystems but also in dynamic systems. Thus, the oscillation of aneedle-tip pen 200 can deal with the quantification of the amount that asequence or function tends to move between extremes, which extremes canbe modified, controlled, predetermined, and/or defined according to astored parameter and/or executable computer instruction using controlparameters as inputs.

In addition, an oscillating system may be subject to some externalforce, as when an AC circuit is connected to an outside power source. Inthis case the oscillation is said to be “driven”.

An electronic oscillator is an electronic circuit that produces aperiodic, oscillating electronic signal, often a sine wave, jagged, or asquare wave. Oscillators convert direct current (DC) from a power supplyto an alternating current signal. Examples of signals generated byoscillators include signals broadcast by radio and televisiontransmitters, clock signals that regulate computers and quartz clocks,and the sounds produced by electronic beepers and video games. Asdiscussed herein, the oscillation of a needle-tip pen can be controlledaccording to an oscillation form (or force component form) that candefine needle tip position, imprint needle depth, a forcelevel/amplitude or other time-based quantity profile. Thus, the motionand/or force applied to a needle and needle tip of a pen element can becontrolled in-time, position, angle and force/actuation. Similarly, anink, liquid application, and/or dye associated with such needleinstrument can also be controlled according to pressure, volume, flow,attribute such as colour intensity and/or chemistry by the needle tippen or subsequent to application by the needle tip pen during a curingprocess.

The needle tip, or needle-point, can also be a contact tip forcontacting a material. Contact with the material can occur in-betweenthe retracted position of the needle and the extended position of theneedle. The position of the needle contact with the material can bereferred to as the contact point of extension. And, the distance ofpenetration of the needle tip into the material in between the contactpoint and the extended point can describe a penetration depth of theneedle (or contact tip of the needle) into the material.

In addition to the penetration depth, the needle penetration into thematerial can be defined by other characteristics of the needle includingneedle tip-shape and adjacent (or previous in-time and locationconsidered) needle penetration characteristics. Tip characteristics caninclude how sharp or dull the needle tip is. Tip characteristics caninclude a taper angle of the needle tip, or a taper shape (e.g. linear,non-linear, volume, or curved) profile of the needle tip. For example,if the needle tip is shaped like a linear cone and only half of theneedle tip is penetrated into the material based on the needle strokeand penetration depth, the “hole” or indentation made in the material isthree and two-dimensionally different than if the needle tip is more,fully/beyond fully inserted into/or, fully penetrates, the material.Thus, needle tip characteristic, shape, volume displacement, stroke,depth, and other characteristics disclosed herein can affect theindentation and penetration made to the material by the needle. Whenreferring to volume displacement a comparison of indention todisplacement of water can be used as an illustration. As a volume orimprint is made to a material by a needle, the imprint (displacement ofthe material by that needle) creates a displacement of materialaccording to this needle-volume insertion. This volume displacement canbe computer-characterized with consideration of material deformationproperties and material compression properties. As such, computermodeling can consider these material characteristics in modelingindentation deformation properties applied by the needle to thematerial.

Referring still to FIG. 2, the needle-point pen 200 includes an inkreservoir 230 and pall point ink applicator 235 adjacent to thereciprocating needle 205. The ink application portion (230/235) caninclude a barrel 240 within which the ink 230 is held. The ballapplicator tip 235 can be pressed against a reduced diameter opening ofthe pen barrel 240 such that a portion of the ball 235 extendstherefrom. As the ball 235 is pressed against a material (not shown),the ball 235 is rotated and ink 230 is applied to the material. Theneedle 205 and ball 235 pen 200 can be repositioned such that the needle205 is reciprocated over previously applied ink to the material by theball 235. The indentations and penetrations of the needle 205-point 215to the material (not shown) can be applied to the material prior to theink 230 curing/reacting/drying. Thus, the ink 230 may be pressed orinserted into the material by the needle tip 215 immediately subsequentto application of the ink 230 to the material by the ink applicator inthe form of a ball-point 235 adjacent pen and ink 230 reservoir.

As shown in FIG. 2, the barrel 210 of the needle 205 can be pressed (orurged) downwards against a material. Similarly and/or separately, thebarrel 240 associated with the ball-point 235 ink 230 applicator can beurged (or pressed) downwards against the material. The downwards forceof the needle barrel can be different than the downwards force of theball-point 235 ink 230 applicator. And, a reciprocating force applied tothe needle 205 can also be in addition to the downward force applied tothe needle barrel 210. Further, a fluidic pressure applied to the ink230 urging the ink 230 toward the ball 235 can be in addition to thedownward force of the ink barrel 240 as shown in FIG. 2.

Ink chemicals and chemical compounds can include pigment bases, andcolours that they produce such as:

-   Mercury—Red;-   Lead—Yellow, green, white;-   Cadmium—Red, orange, yellow;-   Nickel—Black;-   Zinc—Yellow, white;-   Chromium—Green;-   Cobalt—Blue;-   Aluminum—Green, violet;-   Titanium—White;-   Copper—Blue, green;-   Iron—Brown, red, black;-   Barium—White;-   Ferrocyanide/Ferricyanide—Yellow, red, green, blue; and-   Carbon—Black.

In addition to those listed above, chemicals such as arsenic, calcium,lithium and sulphur are often used, as well as some organic chemicalcompounds. Lightening agents and materials are sometimes blended withthe pigment bases (to reduce production costs). These can includetitanium and lead.

A carrier is the ingredient tasked with transferring the pigment. Thecarrier can be a solvent, with which the pigment is mixed. The carrierruns into the material in the area around where the insertion is made bythe needle-point pen. Carriers also serve the function of keeping themixture of the pigment even and regular, and excluding potentiallydangerous pathogens, where applicable. Water can be used as a carrier.Water is not usually as effective as alcohol-based carriers, which mayincrease an amount of ink which can be absorbed by the material.Examples of alcohols may include methanol, glycerine, rubbing alcohol,denatured alcohol, and propylene glycol.

Other kinds of ink can include glow-in-the-dark ink, link that reacts toUV light, and removable or dissolvable ink.

Another factor can be texture and make-up of the ink. Inks can be lightand free-flowing as opposed to thick and viscous. However, with thininks, colours may not show up as strong, brightly, or intensely.

Traditionally, the viscosity of printing ink has been measured using theefflux cup. This is a container of specified dimensions with anaccurately sized and shaped hole at its base. The number of secondsrequired for the given volume of ink to drain out through the hole givesa measure of its viscosity. A viscometer with an optional integratedthermometer makes it possible to obtain temperature-corrected readingsinstantly, without having to adjust the temperature of the sample orperform any calculations.

One of the most common instruments for measuring kinematic viscosity isthe glass capillary viscometer.

In coating industries, viscosity may be measured with a cup in which theefflux time is measured. There are several sorts of cup— e.g. Zahn cup,Ford viscosity cup— with usage of each type varying mainly according tothe industry. The efflux time can also be converted to kinematicviscosities (centistokes, cSt) through the conversion equations. In theprinting industry ink viscosity measurement using a viscosity cup and astopwatch is still considered to be the historical standard againstwhich all other viscosity measurement techniques are referenced. Thereare numerous viscosity cups available, however, two viscosity cups, EZZahn #2 and Din 4, are the most commonly used.

A solid-state viscosity sensor, based on bulk acoustic wave (BAW)technology, uses a piezoelectric sensing element excited by ahigh-frequency oscillator and operates in the thickness shear mode (TSM)of vibration. In this mode, shear displacement occurs on the crystalfaces in the plane of the crystal plate.

Thus, the viscosity of the ink can be varied to a higher, or lowerviscosity measured in efflux time in seconds, centistokes, etc. Theefflux time in seconds may be between 22 and 28 seconds, and acentistokes viscosity signature #2 can be between 57 and 90, forexample. An EZ Zahn #2 (cup-seconds) may vary between 22.5 seconds and32.5 seconds and vary in 1 second based on a difference between 16 and22 degrees Centigrade of the ink calibrated sensor measurement vs.temperature for varied (10 percent to 20 percent) concentration ofethanol mixed into Flint CF, for example (white ink translated into EZZahn #2 cup-seconds and the associated error).

Thus, the viscosity of the ink can be varied based on a controlledtemperature of the ink and/or chemistry of the ink (e.g. % ethanol or %carrier/% pigment). Thickeners and dilatants can also be used to controlviscosity and viscosity sensors can be used to sense and measure aqueousand solvent-based viscosity of inks. Thus, an ink can be controlled andvaried with intentional or computer-controlled viscosity in 0.1 second,0.2 second, 0.5 second, 1 second, 2 second or larger increments, forexample.

Referring to FIGS. 3A and 3B, a needle-point pen 300 is illustrated. Theneedle-point pen 300 includes a barrel/shaft 305 and a needle 310. Thebarrel 305 includes an internal ink reservoir(s) 315 that surrounds theneedle 310. FIG. 3A shows the needle 310 in an extended position andFIG. 3B shows the needle 310 in a retracted position. The needle 310retracts from the extended position of FIG. 3A inwards into the barrel305 to the retracted position shown in FIG. 3B. While the extent, sizeand depiction of the Figures depicted herein may be exaggerated, or notdrawn entirely to-scale, the teachings illustrated thereby can beappreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art.

Referring again to the comparison of FIGS. 3A and 3B, a “stroke”,difference or delta in position 320 between the retracted and extendedpositions of the needle 310 are illustrated. And, this stroke 320 candefined a retracted state of the needle 310 within the barrel 305 asshown in FIG. 3B and an extended state of the needle 310 beyond thebarrel 305 as shown in FIG. 3A. As shown in FIG. 3B, at the retractedstate, a tip 325 of the needle (or more of the needle's length) is heldwithin the ink of the reservoir 315 created by the barrel 305. And inthe extended state shown in FIG. 3A of the needle 310, the needle 310extends beyond the ink reservoir 315 to apply ink to a material (notshown) via an indentation or penetration of the needle 310 into thematerial.

As shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the barrel 305 can create the reservoir 315of ink, dye, liquid, solution, etc. around the needle 310. The barrel305 and its defined reservoir 315 can include supporting ribs 330. Thesupporting ribs 330 can provide periodic mechanical supports for theneedle 310 during reciprocation/oscillation. And, the supporting ribs330 may not be entirely circumferential in support around a diameter ofthe needle 310 such that ink is allowed to flow along the length of thebarrel 305 through the supporting ribs 330 to the next portion of theink reservoir 315. Thus, the ink can be in communication betweenadjacent chambers of the reservoir 315 defined by the needle-supportingribs 330 there-between. As such, intermediate mechanical support issupplied to the needle 310 by the ribs 330 of the barrel 305 whileallowing the ink/fluid to flow there-between and along the outer surfaceof the needle 310.

As such, the ink may also be designed to provide a lubricating effectbetween the needle 310 and supporting ribs 330 during movement of theneedle 310. And, the barrel 305 and/or ribs 330 may be made of alow-wear or lower relative hardness as opposed to the needle 310 inorder to increase a low-friction reciprocation of the needle 310 thereagainst. For example, the needle 310 may be made of a relatively hardmaterial as opposed to the ribs 330/barrel 305. And, the barrel 305 andribs 330 may be replaced periodically to replace worn ribs 330 due tofriction wear with the needle 310, or vice versa. In some embodiments,the barrel 305 and ribs 330 may be made of a plastic and the needle 310may be made of a metal. And, material attributes of the barrel 305/ribs330 may be material self-lubricating with respect to the material of theneedle 310.

As shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the barrel 305 may include an opening 335that is sized to correspond to the diameter of the needle 310. As shownin end-profiles of FIGS. 3C and 3D, the opening 335 may be sized to fitaround the needle 310, but include ink deposition channels 340 aroundthe diameter of the needle 310 to further allow application of ink tothe material in addition to that carried by the needle 310. Again, theink application channels 340 may be sized for a desired ink applicationto the material and a property of the ink (such as viscosity or afluidic pressure of the ink) may also be controlled, or predetermined,for a desired ink application.

Referring to FIG. 4, the needle can include an internal ink vain. Theinternal ink vain can extend along an internal length of the needle andprovide ink to an application end or tip of the needle. The tip of theneedle where the ink vein can be a point of insertion of the tip into amaterial in an extended position due to reciprocation out of an end of abarrel.

As shown in FIG. 4, the end 405 of a needle 400 can be angled to form apoint. The angled end 405 can be relatively sharp at a large angle tothe length of the needle 400 or the angle of the tip 405 can berelatively dull at a relatively small, or blunt, angle to the length ofthe needle 400 shaft. The point of insertion made into a material 410may be off-center in the angle tip needle 400 as shown and create anindention or penetration into the material 410 according to the shape ofthe needle tip 405. Ink 415 can be applied to the material 410 by an ink415 vein (as shown) and the ink 415 vein can be in communication with anink 415 reservoir (not shown) or the ink 415 vein itself can act as anink 415 reservoir.

Penetration of the needle 400 into the material 410 can be partial asshown in FIG. 4 where the end 405 of the ink 415 vein is not penetratedinto the material 410. Penetration of the needle 400 tip 405 can beincreased from that shown in FIG. 4 so as to penetrate the ink 415 veininto the material 410. And, the depth of the needle tip 405 can becontrolled; and the depth of the ink 415 vein into the material 410 canlikewise be controlled by the reciprocation extent of the needle 400and/or a reciprocation force applied to the needle 405 urging its end405 into the material 410.

Moreover, the ink 415 pressure, viscosity, etc. can also be controlledor varied as discussed herein in addition to the needle 400characteristics/parameters.

Referring to FIG. 5, center-point needle-point pen 500 is illustrated.As shown, a needle 505 is held and reciprocates within a barrel 510. Theneedle 505 includes an ink 515 vein within the needle 505. In thisembodiment, a tip 520 of the needle 505 is “cone-shaped” with the angledtip 520 having a center-point as shown in FIG. 5. The tip 520 of theneedle 505 includes an end of the ink 515 vein that deposits the ink 515at a center-most point (e.g. a tip 520) of the needle 505, and as aresult a deepest point of insertion of the needle 505 tip 520 into amaterial 525.

As previously discussed, a depth of the needle 505 into the material 525can be controlled, the frequency of oscillation of the needle 505 can becontrolled, and ink 515 characteristics such as viscosity and fluidicpressure can be controlled. The reciprocation position of the needle 505can be controlled and/or the pressure of the needle 505 against thematerial 525 can be controlled. The stroke of the needle 505 can becontrolled and the rapidness of extension and/or retraction anddampening characteristics of the needle 505 oscillation can becontrolled. Thus, any needle 505 characteristic can be controlled asdiscussed herein and any ink/dye/fluid 515/chemistry can also becontrolled as disclosed herein using the needle-point pen 500 shown inFIG. 5.

Referring to FIG. 6, a needle-point pen 600 including a porous and/orink permeable tip 605 is illustrated. As shown, the needle 610 includesan ink vein 615 providing ink to the tip 605 of the needle 610. Disposedat the tip 605 of the needle 610 is the porous and/or ink permeableportion of the tip 605. This porous/permeable portion of the needle tip605 allows for ink to move from the vein 615 to outside of the tip 605for application to the material (not shown) when the needle 610 isimpacted and/or penetrated and/or pressed into the material.

Porosity or void fraction is a measure of the void (i.e., “empty”)spaces in a material, and is a fraction of the volume of voids over thetotal volume, between 0 and 1, or as a percentage between 0 and 100%.There are many ways to test porosity in a substance or part, such asindustrial CT scanning. The term porosity is used in multiple fieldsincluding pharmaceutics, ceramics, metallurgy, materials, manufacturing,earth sciences, soil mechanics and engineering.

Porosity can be proportional to hydraulic conductivity; for two similarsandy aquifers, the one with a higher porosity will typically have ahigher hydraulic conductivity (more open area for the flow of ink), butthere are many complications to this relationship. Porosity of theneedle tip 605 can be designed for a viscosity of ink and desired flowthere-through. And, tips 605 of the needle 610 or the needle 610 itselfcan be changed or replaced as porosity changes (e.g. gets plugged) or tovary the desired flow of fluid (e.g. ink) there through.

Referring to FIG. 7, a needle 700 can include various smaller veins 705extending from a main vein 710. The smaller vein(s) 705 can be akin topores 715 in that they allow ink 720 to flow to a material (not shown)outside of the needle 700 via the veins 710/705 and/or pores 715. Theveins 710/705 may be used in connection with the porous 715 material toincrease, decrease, and/or control the flow of the ink to particularlocations of the needle 700. For example, sides (or tapered sides of atip) of the needle 700 may receive more ink than an absolute tip of theneedle 700.

FIG. 8 illustrates a needle 800 with an ink vein 810 and a replaceabletip (or tip “cap”) 815. The replaceable tip 815 can wear out and bereplaced over the needle 800 itself or be replaced for sterilityconcerns. The tip 815 may be of a relatively softer or harder materialthan the needle 800. The material of the tip 815 can be a plastic andthe material of the needle 800 can be metallic. The tip 815 can includeveins 810 and/or pores 820 that can be in fluidic communication with oneor more veins 810 of the needle 810 carrying ink or other fluid.

Referring to FIG. 9, there can be a plurality of needles 900A-N heldimmediately adjacent to one-another. The plurality of needles 900A-N canfunction as a single needle with multiple tips, or the plurality ofneedles 900A-N can function independent of one another.

A needle 900N can be associated with a single barrel 905B or a singlebarrel 905A may support multiple immediately adjacent or spaced needles900A-C supported thereby. Again, each needle 900 can be associated withits own control device 910A-N or multiple needles 900 can be associatedwith a common control device 900. Each control device 910 can controleach, or multiple, needle characteristics. And, each control device 910can control ink associated with each, or multiple, ink characteristics.

As shown in FIGS. 10A and 10B (FIG. 10A is a cross-sectional perspectiveof FIG. 10B) needles 1000 may have a triangular cross-sectional tipdesign from a first perspective (FIG. 10A) with a non-triangularcross-sectional tip design from a perpendicular perspective (FIG. 10B).That is, from the first perspective shown in FIG. 10A the tip of needle1000A can be triangular shaped, but from the perpendicular perspectiveof FIG. 10B the tip of the needle 1000A can be flat (or square) andcreate a flat indentation with relation to adjacent needles 1000A-N.Thus, where the tip of the needle 1000A when viewed from FIG. 10Aappears to make a relatively jagged or sharp penetration the relativelyflat tip configuration of Needle A in FIG. 10B appears to make arelatively flat and continuous indentation with relation to an adjacentneedles. Thus, the indentation characteristics of adjacent needles (or aseries of indentations of a single needle) can be designed to create adifferent indentation property in an X- or Y-direction. Similarly, thedepth, colour, needle tip properties, needle actuation and reciprocationproperties, and ink properties of adjacent needles and/or a series ofindentations and marking made by the same needle can be varied. And, thedifferent depth characters of needles as well as the tip design ofneedles can create different indentation characteristics in the Zdirection. As such, marking control can further include control ofadjacent needles and ink characteristics and subsequent or precedingneedle pen use.

Thus, indentation and dye characteristics can be varied in the X-, Y-,and/or Z-directions due to needle and ink control as disclosed herein.

Referring to FIG. 11 property profiles I-V are illustrated in connectionwith a needle-point pen 1100. The property profiles I-V can be relatedto a needle property and/or an ink property of the needle-point pen1100. The needle-point pen 1100 can include a needle 1105 and/or inkapplicator 1110. As shown, the needle 1105 can reciprocate, or move, inrelation to a material 1115. The needle 1105 can be adjacent to the inkapplicator 1110 (e.g. a ball-point applicator as shown). The needle 1105can also include an internal, adjacent, and/or surrounding ink supplyand/or reservoir 1120.

The property profiles I-V illustrated can relate to a retracted andextended position of the needle 1105. The property profiles I-Villustrated can relate to a force applied to the needle. The propertyprofiles illustrated can relate to a fluidic pressure. The propertyprofiles shown can relate to a pneumatic pressure if the needle isdriven by pressurized air. The property profile shown can relate tohydraulic or mechanical pressure. The property profile shown can relateto a pressure of ink, flow level of ink, or other fluidic property.

As shown by property profile I, the property (vertical axis) can varyover time (horizontal axis) according to a curve. The property can varyover time according to a harmonic oscillation (e.g. according to a sinewave or sinusoid or partial wave. The sine wave, or sinusoid, is amathematical curve that describes a smooth repetitive oscillation. It isnamed after the function sine, of which it is the graph. It occurs oftenin pure and applied mathematics, as well as physics, engineering, signalprocessing and many other fields. It's most basic form as a function oftime (t) is:

y(t)=A\sin(2\pi f t+\varphi)=A\sin(\omega t+\varphi)

where:

A=the amplitude, the peak deviation of the function from zero.

f=the ordinary frequency, the number of oscillations (cycles) that occureach second of time.

ω=2πf, the angular frequency, the rate of change of the functionargument in units of radians per second

\varphi=the phase, specifies (in radians) where in its cycle theoscillation is at t=0.

When \varphi is non-zero, the entire waveform appears to be shifted intime by the amount \varphi/ω seconds. A negative value represents adelay, and a positive value represents an advance.

Property profiles over time can further include square, triangle, andsaw tooth waveforms of different properties which may describe avariation of the property in-time.

For example, referring to FIG. 12, various examples of property profilesare illustrated for overall pen pressure (III), needle pressure (IV),and ink pressure (V). Various variations of property profiles can becontrolled in the marking of material using the needle-point pen asdisclosed herein. The needle can reciprocate between 75 hertz and 200 hzin some embodiments. In some embodiments, the reciprocation can beadjusted by a computer or tuner to 1-5 hz increments between 90 and 134hz, for example.

Referring to FIG. 13, other sensor(s) 1300 can be added to control theneedle-point pen(s) 1310. For example, a pressure sensor 1300 can sensepressure and material 1315 response to pressure applied thereto. Thesensors 1300 may include a material ductility sensor 1300, which can beused to control a property of the needle-point pen 1310. The ductilityor other property of the material can be sensed by a reaction of the pen1310 by the sensor 1300 when the pen 1310 impacts or presses against thematerial 1315. An optical sensor 1300 can be used to sense opticalproperties of the material 1315 that may be used to control the needleand/or ink of the needle-point pen 1310. An adhesion or permeability ofthe material 1315 can also be sensed and the needle and/or ink of thepen 1310 can be controlled based on this sensed property of the material1315. The sensor 1300 may also consider whether the ink is “running” or“smearing.” The sensor 1300 may also consider application of the dye inintensity, colour, amount, or precision by a ink applicator of the pen1310. The sensor may also measure material 1315 “roughness,”“glossy-ness”, absorption properties and other material 1315 properties.The optical (or spectral) attributes sensed can measure attributes ofthe material 1315 (e.g. living tissue viability or blood flow accordingto a heat sensor or MRI) prior to, and after, application of anindention/penetration by the needle of the pen 1310 and prior to andafter application of the dye, ink, or other treatment by the pen 1310.

The sensed attributes may also measure a “curing” or time-relatedproperty of the material 1315 or previous or current treatment of thematerial 1315. For example, where a dye is applied a time-based propertyof the dying process can be considered for application of a second dyeor reapplication of a second treatment of dye to the material 1315.Similarly, an indentation may be made by the pen 1310, the indentationmay be sensed, and a subsequent indentation or treatment may bedetermined based on a property of the material 1315 sensed.

Referring to FIG. 14, an angle 1410 of a needle 1400 may be controlled.The angle 1410 of the needle 1400 may be in regards to an X-, Y-, and/orZ direction (or axis). The angle 1410 of the needle 1400 may alsoconsider a movement of the needle 1400 in the X-,Y-, and/or Z-direction.

For example, in FIG. 14 the needle 1400 is disposed at an angle 1410 tothe X-(and/or Y-) direction, as well as the Z-direction. In addition,the needle 1400 may be moved in the X-, Y-, and/or Z-direction(s). Forexample, referring to FIG. 14 assume that the needle 1400 is angled tothe Z-direction and in the left-to-right direction (X- or Y-direction).Then, the needle 1400 is moved to the left, the needle 1400 would bereciprocating as shown into a material 1415 as it is moved to the left.And, when the needle 1400 is moved to the right and is reciprocating atits angle 1410, the needle 1400 would be being dragged away from itspenetration into the material 1415.

The angle 1400 of the needle 1400 can fixed in-place. Instead, theneedle 1400 can be fixed to a pivot point 1420 to change the angle 1410of the needle as shown in FIG. 14. The pivot point 1420 can be locatedat a distance from the tip of the needle. Therefore, the needle 1400 canbe rotated to different angles 1410 relative to the X-, Y-, andZ-directions. The needle 1400 can also be rotated, if desired, inparticular where the needle 1400 has a different cross-sectional profileas discussed with reference to FIGS. 10A and 10B, for example.

The needle 1400 can also be rotated during reciprocation and/or duringcontact with the material 1415. Thus, the needle 1400 can be controlledvia a “swiping” motion about the pivot point 1420 applying areciprocating pressure of the needle 1400 against the material 1415.

The needle 1400 can also be translated (e.g. left or right) in the X-,Y-, and Z-direction while rotated about the pivot point 1420 therebymoving the entire needle 1400 while there is a “swiping” motion ofrotation of the needle 1400 imparted thereto.

Referring to FIG. 15 different forces may be applied in differentdirections, or components of different directions to a needle and/orneedle-point pen. For example, as shown in FIG. 15 a force 1500C may beapplied to a needle, or needle-point pen, that has an X-, and/or, Y-,component 1500A and/or Z component 1500B. Thus, the force 1500B in thedownwards Z direction may be different than the force 1500A in the leftand/or right X- and/or Y direction. And, combined into a resultant force1500C of reciprocation in a diagonal force 1500C direction.

Referring to FIG. 16, the movement of a needle 1600 (e.g. containing anink vein 1605) can be relative to an angle 1610 of the needle and adepth of penetration of the needle 1600 into a material 1615. Thus,translational control, angle, frequency of reciprocation, extent, force,and ink properties of a needle (1600)-point pen can all be controlledand sensed properties can also be considered in control of material 1615marking using the needle (1600)-point pen.

Referring to FIG. 17, the needle-point pen 1700 can be disposed on acarriage 1705. The carriage 1705 can define a location of theneedle-point pen 1700. In a two-dimensionally articulated moveablecarriage 1705 embodiment, the carriage 1705 is moved and positioned inan X- and Y-direction. Thus, the carriage 1705 holding the needle-pointpen 1700 is disposed at any location within a X- and Y-space within thecapabilities of movement of the carriage on a table 1710.

According to the example shown in FIG. 17, the carriage 1705 can belocated in the X-direction at any position along a X-direction track1720. And, the carriage 1705 can be located in the Y-direction at anyposition along a Y-direction track 1725. Thus, the carriage 1705, andtip(s) of the needle-point pen(s) 1700 can be located at anytwo-dimensional location of the material 1715 as shown in FIG. 17. And,the carriage 1705, can be moved to (and held statically held, or moveddynamically over time) any possible location of the material 1715 asshown in FIG. 17.

Referring to FIG. 18, a carriage 1800 and table 1805 design is shownwhere the ends of the tracks 1810 and 1815 in the X-and Y-directions arerotatable about a periphery of the table 1805. Thus, the tracks 1810 and1815 themselves can be rotated with respect to material 1820 placed onthe table 1805 to translate the carriage 1800 in a two-dimensional andangle-specific manner over the material 1820 surface. As such, the angleof the perpendicularly disposed tracks 1810 and 1815 over the material1820 can likewise be changed to make more complicated translation of thecarriage 1800 in directions other than only a Cartesian coordinatesystem possible according to control of this rotation duringsimultaneous linear translation of the carriage 1800, for example.Similarly, the material 1715/1820 itself can be rotated or translated ina linear and/or rotational manner with relation to the carriage1705/1800 and/or tracks 1720/1810 and 1725/1815 in FIGS. 17 and 18according to some embodiments, such as an incrementally sheet ofmaterial feeding/providing system.

Referring to FIG. 19, a carriage 1900 including an inter-carriageneedle-point pen system is illustrated. The carriage 1900 itself caninclude a coordinate system within the boundaries of the carriage 1900and the needle-point pen can be moved about within these confines of thecarriage 1900 while the carriage 1900 is moving about a table 1905 or isstationary. The carriage 1900 and/or table 1905 can be divided intoquadrants 1910A-N and multiple needle-point pens (not shown) can bedisposed upon the carriage 1900 and “responsible” for marking thematerial 1915 within that quadrant 1910. The overall carriage 1900 canbe moved to reposition multiple independent marking devices (e.g.needle-point pens) over an area of the material 1915 and the pens canconduct simultaneous and/or sequential marking of the material. Thedifferent marking devices can also be applying a treatment at onelocation of the material 1915 while a needle-point pen is marking thematerial 1915 with indentations and/or ink at another location of thematerial 1915 and both devices can be located on the carriage 1900 alongwith sensors and other control apparatus to coordinate the marking,sensing, and repositioning of each device.

As shown in FIG. 19, the marking, sensing, and repositioning of eachdevice can be divided into one of several quadrants 1910A-N of thecarriage 1900. The quadrants 1910A-N of the carriage 1900 can also beassociated with a texturing technique or capability of a marking tool.Thus, the quadrants 1910A-N can be divided into square, triangular (e.g.fractal growth), and/or non-linear quadrants 1910A-N.Translation/dynamic movement of a marking device(s) can be controlledlinearly in a perpendicular, angled (e.g. triangular/radially polar),and/or curved manner by the carriage 1900.

Various software and computer controlled algorithms includinginterpolation, line and curve estimation, quad trees, fractals, etc. canbe used to control translation, design creation and marking, andproperty changes during the marking of the material 1915 by the markingutensil, including one or more needle-point pens.

Certain marking techniques have been found using texture and markingtechniques with the needle tip pen described herein that are similar indesign to those traditionally made with conventional pencils, pens andbrushes.

Stippling, for example, is the creation of a pattern simulating varyingdegrees of solidity or shading by using small dots. Such a pattern mayoccur in nature and these effects are frequently emulated by artists.Similarly, the needle-point pen can be used to create such artisticeffects using varying degrees of solidity or shading by using smalldots.

In a drawing or painting, the dots are made of pigment of a singlecolour, applied with a pen or brush; the denser the dots, the darker theapparent shade-or lighter, if the pigment is lighter than the surface.This is similar to-but distinct from-pointillism, which uses dots ofdifferent colours to simulate blended colours.

In printmaking, dots may be carved out of a surface to which ink will beapplied, to produce either a greater or lesser density of ink dependingon the printing technique. In engraving, the technique was invented byGiulio Campagnola in about 1510. Stippling may also be used in engravingor sculpting an object even when there is no ink or paint involved,either to change the texture of the object, or to produce the appearanceof light or dark shading depending on the reflective properties of thesurface: for instance, stipple engraving on glass produces areas thatappear brighter than the surrounding glass. The needle-point pen can beused to make such dots in printmaking.

The technique became popular as a means of producing shaded line artillustrations for publication, because drawings created this way couldbe reproduced in simple black ink. The other common method is hatching,which uses lines instead of dots. Stippling has traditionally beenfavored over hatching in biological and medical illustration, since itis less likely than hatching to interfere visually with the structuresbeing illustrated (the lines used in hatching can be mistaken for actualcontours), and also since it allows the artist to vary the density ofshading more subtly to depict curved or irregular surfaces.

Images produced by halftoning or dithering and computer printers operateon similar principles (varying the size and/or spacing of dots onpaper), but do so via photographic or digital processes rather thanmanually. These newer techniques have made it possible to convertcontinuous-tone images into patterns suitable for printing, but artistsmay still choose stippling for its simplicity and handmade appearance.The Wall Street Journal still features stippled and hatched portraitsknown as hedcuts in its pages, a holdover from its earlier avoidance ofphotographs.

In description of flora species, a stippling is a kind of pattern,especially in the case of flowering plants, produced in nature thatoccur on flower petals and sepals. These are similar to the dot patternsin artworks that produce an often intricate pattern. An example can beseen on the base of the petal insides of Calochortus luteus, a poppyendemic to California, for example.

Hatching is an artistic technique used to create tonal or shadingeffects by drawing (or painting or scribing) closely spaced parallellines. (It is also used in monochromatic heraldic representations toindicate what the tincture of a “full-colour” emblazon would be.) Whenlines are placed at an angle to one another, it is calledcross-hatching.

Hatching is especially important in essentially linear media, such asdrawing, and many forms of printmaking, such as engraving, etching andwoodcut. In Western art, hatching originated in the Middle Ages, anddeveloped further into cross-hatching, especially in the old masterprints of the fifteenth century. Master ES and Martin Schongauer inengraving and Erhard Reuwich and Michael Wolgemut in woodcut werepioneers of both techniques, and Albrecht Dürer in particular perfectedthe technique of crosshatching in both media.

Artists use the technique, varying the length, angle, closeness andother qualities of the lines, most commonly in drawing, linear paintingand engraving.

The main concept is that the quantity, thickness and spacing of thelines will affect the brightness of the overall image, and emphasizeforms creating the illusion of volume. Hatching lines should alwaysfollow (i.e. wrap around) the form. By increasing quantity, thicknessand closeness, a darker area will result.

An area of shading next to another area which has lines going in anotherdirection is often used to create contrast.

Line work can be used to represent colours, typically by using the sametype of hatch to represent particular tones. For example, red might bemade up of lightly spaced lines, whereas green could be made of twolayers of perpendicular dense lines, resulting in a realistic image.

Thus, the needle-point pen can be used to create certain stipple andhatching techniques, for example, and patterns of marking using theneedle-point pen.

For additional examples:

Linear hatching—Hatching in parallel lines. Normally the lines followthe direction of the described plane.

Crosshatching—Layers of hatching applied at different angles to createdifferent textures and darker tones. At its simplest, a layer of linearhatching is laid over another layer at a 90° angle, to which furtherdiagonal layers may be added. Other methods include layering arbitraryintersecting patches. Crosshatching in which layers intersect at slightangles can create a rippled moiré effect.

Contoured hatching—Hatching using curved lines to describe light andform of contours.

Referring to FIG. 20 components of a carriage 2000 are shown. Thecarriage 2000 can include one or more needle-point pen(s) 2005. Theneedle-point pen 2005 can include a needle 2010 and an ink reservoir2015. The ink reservoir 2015 can include multiple ink reservoirs 2015.The ink reservoir 2015 can include a red ink reservoir, a blue inkreservoir, a yellow ink reservoir, and a black ink reservoir, forexample.

The carriage 2000 can include a needle control module 2020 and inkcontrol module 2040. The needle control module 2020 can operate a needledriver 2025. The driver 2025 can oscillate the needle 2010 at acontrolled and determined oscillation having oscillation properties asdisclosed herein. The driver 2025 can provide a driving force to theneedle 2010 and reciprocate the needle 2010 between a retracted positionand an extended position as well as positions there between according toan oscillation profile as disclosed herein.

The ink control module 2040 can control ink 2015 properties. The inkcontrol module 2040 can control delivery of ink from the one or morereservoirs 2015 to the needle 2010, a vein within the needle 2010,and/or an ink void surrounding the needle 2010, for example.

The carriage 2000 can include sensors 2050. The sensors 2050 can sensematerial attributes, such as ductility, colour, curing properties, etc.The sensors 2050 can communicate with the ink control 2040 and needlecontrol 2020 modules. The ink control module 2040 can include aprocessor 2045 and memory 2047. The memory 2047 can include randomaccess memory (RAM) and/or read only memory (ROM). The processor 2045can include any logic device including a field programmable gate arrayand/or a microprocessor. Similarly, the needle control module 2020 caninclude a processor 2022 and memory 2024. The memory 2024 can includeRAM and/or ROM. The processor 2022 of the needle control module 2020 caninclude any logic device.

The needle control module 2020 can also include the driver 2025 foroscillating/reciprocating the needle 2010. The actuator of the driver2025 can translate rotational motion into linear motion of the needle.Electro magnets can also be used as well as other transducers as part ofthe driver 2025. A transducer is a device that converts one form ofenergy to another. Energy types include (but are not limited to):electrical, mechanical, electromagnetic (including light), chemical,acoustic, and thermal energy. The needle control module 2020 causes aforce to be applied to the needle 2010 to change a position, force,rotation, and/or other needle characteristic. An actuator is atransducer that accepts energy and produces the kinetic energy ofmovement (action)—a driving force. The energy supplied to an actuatormight be electrical or mechanical (pneumatic, hydraulic, etc.). Anelectric motor and a hydraulic cylinder are both actuators, convertingelectrical energy and fluid power into motion for different purposes.Thus, the needle control module 2020 and/or driver 2025 can include anactuator. A magnetic cartridge, for example, converts relative physicalmotion to and from electrical signals. Various other position sensors,accelerometers, strain gauges, tactile sensors, rotary and linearmotors, and other electro-mechanical devices and sensors can be includedto actuate the needle 2010.

The carriage 2000 can include a user interface 2060. The user interface2060 can provide control feedback to a user as to needle and ink controland status characteristics. The user interface 2060 can also providetrouble-shooting or problem identification to a user such as a wornneedle 2010 or a level of ink in the reservoir 2015 in addition toinformation about the needle 2010, ink 2015, and/or material beingworked on. The user interface 2060 may also track and provide updates asto project completion to the user and/or software and control parameterupdates to the control module 2020 and needle module 2040. And, a usermay provide control feedback to the control modules 2020 and 2040 of thecarriage 2000 using the user interface 2060 or make a break in markingprocedure for ink reservoir and/or needle replacement or otheradjustments. Similar reservoir and needle replacements as well asadjustments can also be conducted by the carriage 2000 itself where thecarriage 2000 has additional “spare” or replacement parts potentiallyhaving the same or different ink and/or needle characteristics.

The carriage 2000 can include a communication interface/port 2070. Thecommunication interface 2070 can be wired or wireless. The communicationinterface can receive and transmit data with a communication interface2082 of a computer 2080. The computer 2080 can be a computing devicethat is external to the carriage 2000. The carriage 2000 can also carrya computer thereon or therein with computing processors and may or maynot include some or all of the needle and ink control modules 2020 and2040.

As shown in FIG. 20, the computer 2080 is external to the carriage 2000in this embodiment. The computer 2080 is communicably connected forcommunication with the carriage's 2000 needle control module 2020 andink control module 2040 as well as control of the carriage 2000 positionitself. The computer 2080 includes one or more processors 2081 and oneor more memory 2082. The memory 2081 stores executable instructions(e.g. stored software and/or hardware) which cause the carriage 2000 toperform certain functions and processes. The computer executableinstructions stored on memory 2082 of the computer 2080 and executed bythe processor 2081 of the computer 2080 can be in communication andinteract with computer executable instructions stored on the memory 2047and 2024 and executed by the processors 2022 and 2045 of the carriage2000 to coordinate needle and/or ink control as discussed herein.

The memory 2024 and 2047 of the carriage 2000 and/or memory 2082 of thecomputer 2080 can further store data in the form of tables, controlparameters, and calibration values for needle and ink control. Datastored in tables, stored control parameters and calibration values canalso be updated by data received from sensors 2050 disposed on thecarriage 2000 regarding needle 2010, ink 2015, and/or materialattributes. The data and stored values can be updated as changes tomaterial, marking schemes, programs, designs, layers, digital models,and instructions, as well as needles and ink attributes change.

The computer 2080 can further a carriage position control module 2085 tocontrol the position of the carriage 2000 over material. As previouslydiscussed, the carriage 2000 may be supported and articulated by one ormore tracks. The carriage 2000 can also be positionable by one or morearticulated arms to which it is attached. Thus, the carriage 2000 can bepositionable in two or three X-, Y-, and/or Z-directions. The carriage2000 can also be oriented and positionable with relation to angles tovarious axis's and radial positions from center points at a distance aspreviously discussed. The carriage 2000 can also be moved, or translatedin position, at a rate over time and distance dynamically. Thus, thecarriage 2000 can be steadily moved, or moved according to a movementscheme to control marking of the material by the needle-point pen.

The carriage 2000 can include multiple needle-point pens, reciprocatingneedles, ink applicators, and/or sensors. The multiple devices canoperate independent of one another and be articulated within theperiphery in a coordinated and computer controlled manner according toinstructions, software, and algorithms.

The computer 2080 can include one or more user interfaces 2083 such as akeyboard, mouse, touch pad, input stylus, etc. The computer 2080 canalso include one or more displays 2084 for providing information to auser. The computer 2080 can include material marking design virtualinterface allowing for the user to design a marking scheme using thecomputer 2080 that is imparted to the material using the needle-pointpens 2005 in conjunction with the carriage 2000.

The computer 2080 may be in communication with other computers 2091designed for certain tasks or in collaboration with the computer 2080communicably connected to the carriage 2000 and one or more devices(e.g. control modules 2020 and 2040) disposed on the carriage 2000. Thecomputer 2080 may also be in communication with a network 2092 and otherremote computer servers 2090. The other computer 2091 and server 2090may store and provide material models and models and procedureinstructions for use by the computer 2080 in commanding the carriage2000 and tools for manufacturing/marking an article.

Referring to FIG. 21, a process for manufacturing and/or marking anarticle is illustrated. In some embodiments, the article includes awearable article such as footwear (e.g. shoes), bags, hats, gloves,jackets, etc. In some embodiments, the article includes a piece offurniture, art, or a decorative article. Thus, in addition toutilitarian marking and manufacturing, the needle-point pen and variousinventive devices disclosed herein enable creative artistic tool. And,by harnessing the electronic, chemical, mechanical, fluidic, positional,and other needle, ink, and carriage automated control using actuators,computers, motors, electronics, etc.—new and improved artistic designsmay be achieved thereby.

As shown in FIG. 21, a needle-point printer 2100 is provided. Theneedle-point printer 2100 can include a needle-point pen disposed on acarriage, e.g. as shown in FIGS. 17-20. As shown in FIG. 21, theneedle-point printer 2100 can be a two dimensional needle-point printer2100 where the carriage is positionable in at least two perpendiculardirections (e.g. X- and Y-directions). The needle of the pen isreciprocated with an Z-direction component against the material.

The needle-point printer 2100 imparts marks via the needle and dye tothe material according to control instructions received from a computer2105. The computer 2105 is communicably coupled to the needle-pointprinter 2100 to instruct the needle-point printer 2100 as to marking ofthe material using a needle-point and dye applicator marking and/ormanufacturing design.

The computer 2105 can be considered local to the printer 2100 in that itis in direct communication with the printer 2100 and converts a designreceived and/or generated into printer recognizable control instructionsfor the printer 2100 to mark material of an article according to themarking design stored by the computer 2105.

The computer 2105 can receive the marking design from a server computer2110. The server computer 2110 can be considered remote to the printer2100 in that the “local” computer 2105 is disposed between the servercomputer 2105 and the printer 2100. The local computer 2105 receives amarking design from the server computer 2110 and controls the printer2100 to mark the material using the printer 2100 to impart the design tothe material.

The server computer 2110 can create and compile the design to beimparted to the material. The server computer can include software thatis configured to combine an artistic design with an article design tocreate a marked article design. The marking of the article isaccomplished using the printer 2100 controlled by the local computer2105 according to the marked article design provided by theserver/remote computer 2110. Of course, the server computer 2110 and thelocal computer 2105 (as well as any of the computing devices) can becombined or further separated into multiple computing devices; but inthis illustration of FIG. 21, the separation thereof is used toillustrate the process work-flow creation of a marked article usingcomputer functional modules commanding and controlling article design,marking, and fabrication for a more understandable purpose andbroken-down actions or steps to achieve the desired/requested article.

The server computer 2110 can be in communication with two purposedcomputers. A first computer 2115 can be referred to as an artistcomputer and a second computer 2120 can be an article designer computer.The server computer 2110 can receive an artistic design from the artistcomputer 2115. The server computer can provide this artistic design tothe article designer 2120 that applies the design to the article'sphysical characteristics.

For example, where the article is footwear, the artist 2115 can providean artistic design to the server 2110 and the article designer 2120 canapply this design to the parts of a shoe. For example, the articledesigner can apply the artist's design to the tongue, heel, sides, toe,etc. parts of the shoe. And, the article designer 2120 can understandhow the parts of the shoe are to be assembled and the design appliedthereto will be perceived. For example, a design applied to the parts ofa shoe by the article designer 2120 using article designing software maydigitally model a design that spans different parts of the shoe whenassembled. The sides of the shoe may be stitched to the toe and heel ofthe shoe and the design may need to span those areas of the differentparts of the shoe when assembled.

The artistic design 2115 may also be modified or selectively applied toshow the design on the viewable surface of the shoe based on a shape orperspective of the shoe. That is, when viewed from a particularview-point, the shoe and design imparted thereto may appear differentlythan when viewed from a different view-point. These view-point aspectsand understanding of article parts and assembly as well as digitalmodeling thereof can also be further understood using software andalgorithms for fitting an artistic, or other mark, to an article orun-assembled components of the article. An example of an automatedsystem and process for manufacturing of shoe parts is known to Nike andother shoe manufacturers such as that discussed in WO 2013/074940, forexample, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by referenceherein.

Where the printing is to be conducted on an assembled article, athree-dimensional model of the article can be obtained as opposed tomore two-dimensional “flat” pieces of the article. The article can beregistered such that different portions of the article are understoodaccording to the digital model of the article. The article or parts ofthe article can be scanned or otherwise sensed to create the model.

Regarding digital modeling of article parts or an assembled threedimensional article, a laser LIDAR scanner can create a point cloudmodel of the article, or parts of the article, for more accuratelymodeling the article in three dimensional space. Lidar (also writtenLIDAR, LiDAR or LADAR) is a remote sensing technology that measuresdistance by illuminating a target with a laser and analyzing thereflected light. Lidar is popularly used as a technology to makehigh-resolution maps, with applications in geomatics, archaeology,geography, geology, geomorphology, seismology, forestry, remote sensing,atmospheric physics, airborne laser swath mapping, laser altimetry, andcontour mapping.

There are several major components to a lidar system:

Laser—600-1000 nm lasers are most common for non-scientificapplications.

Scanner and optics—How fast images can be developed is also affected bythe speed at which they are scanned.

Photodetector and receiver electronics—Two main photodetectortechnologies are used in lidars: solid state photodetectors, such assilicon avalanche photodiodes, or photomultipliers.

Position systems—Lidar sensors that are mounted on mobile platforms todetermine the absolute position and orientation of the sensor.

Stereoscopy can also be used to understanding and create threedimensional models of an article for application of a design or othermarking. Stereoscopy (also called stereoscopics) is a technique forcreating or enhancing the illusion of depth in an image by means ofstereopsis for binocular vision. Any stereoscopic image is called astereogram.

Most stereoscopic methods present two offset images separately to theleft and right eye of the viewer. These two-dimensional images are thencombined to give the perception of 3D depth.

Thus, a three-dimensional model of an article can be sensed, measured,or determined and the design or markings can be applied to the actualarticle's parts pre-assembly or as a three-dimensional fully assembledarticle. As such, the design and markings can be considered a “layer”applied to the outer surface of the article using the needle-point pendisposed on a positionable carriage, or articulated arm, for example.And, the article designer can use specialized software and a computerinterface to virtually apply the layer design to the outer of surface ofthe article model, which is subsequently tangibly applied to the actualtangible article by the computer controlled and automated needle-pointpen of the printer 2100.

The article designer 2120, or other application specialist, can furtheruse computer assisted packages and computer-based image manipulation andmorphing/skewing technology to further enhance, improve of experimentwith creative designs and artwork. Such resizing, skewing, stretching,filters, optical enhancements, etc. can be made to create opticaleffects are improve application of the size, shape, theme, or otherfeatures of a design to the article.

Thus, the artist 2115 may use certain tools to create a design which thearticle designer 2120 can take and use virtual and computer software andmanipulation tools to further enhance or change the design applied tothe article and visually displayed thereon. As such, the artist 2115 andthe article designer 2120 can reach a new and collaborative worktogether in creation of a design to be applied to the article pre, orpost, assembly of the article.

According to some embodiments, the artist 2115 may be a purchaser of thearticle who makes a design to be applied to the article. In someembodiments, the artist 2115 may design a tattoo that the artist isconsidering to apply to their own skin. The purchaser of the article mayalso work with a tattoo artist 2115 in designing the tattoo, but want tosee what the tattoo might look like when applied first to a material,such as leather. As such, the artist 2115 can include the purchaserand/or a tattoo artist. The tattoo artist 2115 may also want to developtheir skill in creating their art in the form of a design made toleather using the needle-point pen printer 2100. The tattoo artist 2115may also work with the article designer 2120 or may learn to practicethe craft of article design in connection with the tattoo artist'sexperience in applying tattoos to live skin. The application of varioustattoo techniques may also be experimented with by the tattoo artist2115 using the needle-point pen and computer control to further perfectthe tattoo artist craft and new experimental techniques withoutexperimenting on live tissue of a living person where a permanent tattoois not easily removed (as opposed to disposal of a “tattooed” article.Thus, the markings and designs applied to an article by the needle-pointpen printer 2100 may be considered, or coined, “the tattoo that you cantake off” by simply removing your shoes, belt, hat, jacket, bag,throwing away a cushion, etc.

The use of the computer control techniques may further enable newmarking techniques. The new marking techniques may be somewhat based orinspired by traditional painting, chiseling, engraving, dying, and/ordrawing techniques. And, software, image enhancement, warping or otherimage conversion and software techniques can be used. Further, where theneedle-point pen includes a depth characteristic or layers of dye orlayers of secondary indentations and penetrations, layers of markingscan be used to further enhance possibilities of design creation.

For example, a stippling computer controlled technique or software forcontrol of the needle-point pen can be used. Stippling is the creationof a pattern simulating varying degrees of solidity or shading by usingsmall dots. Such a pattern may occur in nature and these effects arefrequently emulated by artists.

In stippling drawing or painting, the dots are made of pigment of asingle colour, applied with a pen or brush; the denser the dots, thedarker the apparent shade—or lighter, if the pigment is lighter than thesurface. This is similar to—but distinct from—pointillism, which usesdots of different colours to simulate blended colours.

Similar techniques can be used or made by computer control of needle andink characteristics of the needle-point pen of printer 2100 as well asoscillation control, depth control and positional control by thecomputers 2105, 2115, and 2120.

In printmaking, dots may be carved out of a surface to which ink will beapplied, to produce either a greater or lesser density of ink dependingon the printing technique. In engraving, the technique was invented byGiulio Campagnola in about 1510. Stippling may also be used in engravingor sculpting an object even when there is no ink or paint involved,either to change the texture of the object, or to produce the appearanceof light or dark shading depending on the reflective properties of thesurface: for instance, stipple engraving on glass produces areas thatappear brighter than the surrounding glass.

The technique became popular as a means of producing shaded line artillustrations for publication, because drawings created this way couldbe reproduced in simple black ink. The other common method is hatching,which uses lines instead of dots. Stippling has traditionally beenfavored over hatching in biological and medical illustration, since itis less likely than hatching to interfere visually with the structuresbeing illustrated (the lines used in hatching can be mistaken for actualcontours), and also since it allows the artist to vary the density ofshading more subtly to depict curved or irregular surfaces.

Images produced by halftoning or dithering and computer printers operateon similar principles (varying the size and/or spacing of dots onpaper), but do so via photographic or digital processes rather thanmanually. These newer techniques have made it possible to convertcontinuous-tone images into patterns suitable for printing, but artistsmay still choose stippling for its simplicity and handmade appearance.The Wall Street Journal still features stippled and hatched portraitsknown as hedcuts in its pages, a holdover from its earlier avoidance ofphotographs.

The term stipple can also apply to a random pattern of small depressionsapplied to a surface to increase the friction and make the surfaceeasier to grip. This process is similar to knurling or checkering, butis often used on complex curved surfaces, such as anatomical grips,where a regular pattern would not fit. Stippling can be cast intoplastic objects, or applied with a hammer and punch to wood or metalobjects.

Stippling may also refer to the circular pattern of dots created arounda gunshot wound when a firearm is discharged in very close proximity tothe skin.

In quilt making, the term refers to background quilting in heirloomquilts and all-over stitching in others. It is made freehand or withfree-motion machine quilting by densely stitching through all layers ina relatively close repetitive design.

In interior decoration, the tips of the bristles of a stippling brushare dabbed onto a freshly painted wall or surface to create a subtledesign in the paint. The paint hit by the points is displaced and leavesonly a thin dot of paint through which a lighter layer of colourunderneath will show through.

In digital photography, stippling refers to image noise similar to filmgrain.

Thus, stippling techniques that may be enhanced using software andcomputer control to impart such techniques to articles using theneedle-point pen can be used and experimented with.

As another example of using one or more techniques in software or otherneedle-point pen control can include hatching techniques. Hatching is anartistic technique used to create tonal or shading effects by drawing(or painting or scribing) closely spaced parallel lines. (It is alsoused in monochromatic heraldic representations to indicate what thetincture of a “full-colour” emblazon would be.) When lines are placed atan angle to one another, it is called cross-hatching.

Hatching is especially important in essentially linear media, such asdrawing, and many forms of printmaking, such as engraving, etching andwoodcut. Artists use the technique, varying the length, angle, closenessand other qualities of the lines, most commonly in drawing, linearpainting and engraving.

The main concept is that the quantity, thickness and spacing of thelines will affect the brightness of the overall image, and emphasizeforms creating the illusion of volume. Hatching lines should alwaysfollow (i.e. wrap around) the form. By increasing quantity, thicknessand closeness, a darker area will result.

An area of shading next to another area which has lines going in anotherdirection is often used to create contrast.

Line work can be used to represent colours, typically by using the sametype of hatch to represent particular tones. For example, red might bemade up of lightly spaced lines, whereas green could be made of twolayers of perpendicular dense lines, resulting in a realistic image.

Linear hatching—Hatching in parallel lines. Normally the lines followthe direction of the described plane.

Crosshatching—Layers of hatching applied at different angles to createdifferent textures and darker tones. At its simplest, a layer of linearhatching is laid over another layer at a 90° angle, to which furtherdiagonal layers may be added. Other methods include layering arbitraryintersecting patches. Crosshatching in which layers intersect at slightangles can create a rippled moiré effect.

Contoured hatching—Hatching using curved lines to describe light andform of contours.

Thus, stippling, hatching, and other techniques can be used in softwareor enhanced in software, or used as an inspiration to create new andexciting marking designs applied to an article using the needle-pointpen.

It should be noted, however, that use of the needle-point-pen can be inconjunction with other marking apparatus such as painting, staining,stamping, drawings, etc. which may be manual or automatically carriedout.

Referring again to FIG. 21, a new business model (e.g. including anon-profit and/or scholarship model) can be understood. For example, theartist 2115 can be a person (e.g. a student) in a remote country. Theartist 2115 may be knowledgeable about a cultural type of art orartistic tool for creating art. Thus, the artist 2115 at the remotelocation can create art and make this art available for a purchaser toapply to an article of which they select. The article designer 2120 canthen apply the artist's design to the article and the article can beshipped or otherwise provided to the purchaser. The artist 2115, forexample in a remote location (e.g. in Vietnam, Africa, South America,etc.) may then be compensated for their artistic contribution to thedesign and manufacture of the article.

According to this model, the remote artist 2115 may impart theirculturally-inspired artistic talent to an article's design. And, thearticle designer 2120 may work with this artist 2115 to create thedecorated article according to this artist's 2115 creative work.

The remote artist 2115 may also include a remotely located or inspiredarticle design. For example, where an artist is Dutch and creates adesign for a wooden shoe or clog, the artistic design can be imparted tothe model of a traditional wooden shoe by the Dutch artist 2115 orsomeone with Dutch wood shoe design and layout or digital modellingthereof. This design can be imparted to a wood shoe “blank” by thecomputer controlled needle-point pen of the printer 2100 on-location orremote to the location of the artist 2115. Similarly, the designimparted to the wooden shoe by-hand by the artist 2115 may beimage-captured and replicated by the remotely located needle-pointprinter 2115 based on an image capture, edge detection, colourdetection, and/or three dimensional point cloud model that may alsoinclude depth characteristics of the wooden shoe design and manualfeature creation using traditional tools and methods.

Thus, a purchaser may be given an option to create their own design, orsubmit their own art for article marking and creation. However, thepurchaser may purchase a work or collaboration with a remote artistspecializing in creation of related art. For example, a student inAfrica creates African-culture (or tribal) “themed” artwork. The charitypresents a depiction of this artwork to a purchaser, among other worksof art made in different remote locations by different students in thosevarious locations. The purchaser may be allowed to purchase the remoteartist's design to be place on a manufactured article of the purchaser'schoice. Or, the purchaser may be offer the services of collaborationwith the remote artist in a custom-made design. Where the artist hasmade a particular design with a particular article in-mind, thepurchaser may be offered that article with the applied design as aproduct for purchase.

In this example, the artist submits the design, the purchaser selectsthe design along with the desired article to which it is applied. Thedesign and article are merged into a final decorated, or marked, articlemodel which is forwarded to the needle-point printer 2100. Theneedle-point printer 2100 is supplied with the article parts 2125 forprinting thereto according to the artist created and purchaser selecteddesign. Or, an already assembled article may be supplied 2125 to theneedle-point printer 2100 which applies the design to the article asdisclosed herein.

If unassembled, the marked parts of the designed article is forwardedfor assembly (if in parts) 2130, post processing (e.g. cleaning,sealing, etc.) 2135, packaged and shipped 2140 to the purchaser. Otheraspects of article design, such as size, colour, material, etc. can betaken into account as would be normally considered in order fulfillmentand article manufacture.

Then, or at some point, the artist 2115 can be compensated for theircontribution to the design by the purchaser. The compensation can be astraight monetary compensation. Or, in the case of a charitable ornon-profit component, the monetary compensation can be in the form of ascholarship contribution to the artist 2115 or artist's school, forexample in the artist's name for them to use for scholastic endeavors.

The artist 2115 may also be provided with article design and virtualartistic tools to learn new computer-assisted methods for art creationusing their personally learned artistic crafts based on local andcultural techniques. And, such techniques can further translate into newand exciting texturing and computer assisted techniques, such as thosepreviously discussed related to stippling and hatching examples.

Further, the materials and media to which art is applied can furthertake into consideration that which is locally used to do so. Forexample, where an etching or chiseling procedure is applied to potteryin a locality, potentially with a ceramic/pottery dye, such techniquescan also be translated into the creation of computer assisted techniquesin connection with use of the needle-point pen and embodiments disclosedherein. Similar techniques can be applied to marking wood, metal, andchemical/dying treatments applied thereto. For example, where a metal isindented using the needle-point pen, a reactant can also be applied inplace of, or as part of the dye. The reactant can cause metal to oxidizein a location and upon spectrally sensed oxidation of the metal by thereactant of the dye, a dilatant or neutralizer may then be applied tothe metal to cease reaction or discontinue curing of a reactant.Similarly, a dye may be removed or prevented from further curing orspreading. And, after a dye is cured, a portion of the dyed material canbe removed by the needle-point pen or a second layer of dye or reactantcan be applied thereto to create a second layer of creative design.

Thus, in addition to the needle and ink/reactant control, materialcontrol and creative layering of processes can be used to create new,useful, and aesthetic designs applied/printed to articles. And, computerand software visualization and processes can also be translated to thetangible medium using the embodiment disclosed herein.

Referring to FIG. 22, a “learning stylus” 2200 is illustrated forproviding computer input as to how an artist controls a markinginstrument when marking a material. For example, the stylus 2200 mayrepresent a paint brush, pencil, tattoo machine, engraver, chisel, etc.The stylus 2200 may include various sensors 2210. The sensors can bepressure sensors 2210 disposed about the periphery of the stylus 2200.Accelerometers, tilt sensors, vibration sensors, and other sensors canalso be disposed in the stylus 2200. The stylus 2200 may also includepressure sensors located at the tip 2220 of the stylus in addition toaround the periphery of the stylus 2210.

As the artist uses the stylus 2200 to practice the artist's craft in amanner typical of the marking tool of which the stylus 220 is meant torepresent, the sensors 2210 track and translate the motions and pressurecontrols to machine learned and learnable techniques for control of theneedle-tip pen and even virtual simulation of manual marking tool(stylus simulated) control.

Thus, the learning stylus 2200 of FIG. 22 can also represent acharacterization tool to further understand the manner in which anartist uses a conventional marking tool. In addition, certain techniquesused by a “master” artist may not entirely be understood by the artisther/himself. And, using computer 2225 recognition and reproduction ofmovement, new and exciting techniques may be recognized and expanded orreplicated using machine control.

For example, a tattoo artist may use a different technique to apply atattoo to live skin based on a thickness of the skin (e.g. thicker dueto body fat content or exposure to sun), texture of the skin (e.g.relatively rough or smooth skin), a colour of the skin, etc. The tattooartist may also understand from experience tattooing the effects oftattoo “healing” or scarring of the skin and ink depth-related aspectsof placing ink within, transdermally, or superficially. These materialattributes of marking live skin may translate (or not) to othermaterials and techniques that may be considered, recognized, and/orotherwise sensed using the learning stylus 2200 in connection withcomputer 2225 collection of data and analysis thereof. These learnedtechniques can be characterized with machine control of a needle-pointpen, for example. And, such machine/computer learning can furtherenhance marking techniques used in other areas and with other materials,tools, and mediums.

To reiterate some aspects of the embodiments disclosed herein thatrelate to the needle-point pen control and use:

There can be mechanical control of the needle. This needle control caninclude stroke, distance of stroke, pressure, oscillation frequency,impact/velocity/linear and non-linear movement. The needle controlrelated to oscillation can include wave forms, amplitude, frequencies,periods, dependence on force/pressure against the material. Theoscillation characteristics can be changed based on pressure or materialsensed attributes. The oscillation can be affected by depth of theneedle insertion into the material and needle-point characteristics.

The angle of the needle can be changed with regard to the X-, Y-, andZ-axes. The angle can include a rotation of the needle or a swipingmotion of the needle which can also affect depth and pressure againstthe material.

The movement (e.g. translation and position) of the needle and carriagecan be changed and controlled in the X-, Y-, and/or Z-direction. Theneedle-tip pen can be moved into the direction of angled reciprocationor dragged away from this angle of reciprocation and advancement of theneedle into the material. The needle can be moved sideways to this angleof reciprocation.

The needle design can be changed in length, support, bending, diameter,thickness, sharpness, bluntness, etc. The material of the needle can beselected based on the material it will impact or be inserted into andcan take into account wear characteristics of the needle and anassociate barrel support. The needle shape can be selected forindention, taper, cross-sectional shape, etc. A needle design can beselected for sterility, replicability, material ductility and otherproperties, reaction etc. The needle can have ink/fluid veins, beporous, or otherwise include features, grooves, or other channels forink supply to the material.

The ink can have controlled or selected characteristics. The ink canhave selected spectral, colour, intensity, human viewable ornon-viewable (e.g. ultra-violet), fluorescent, characteristics. The inkcan have a selected viscosity, adhesive, dispersion, reactive, curing,etching, and acidic, cleaning, or other property. The ink can be anaqueous solution. The ink can be a solvent. The ink can have particlessuspended therein. The purpose of the particles can be reactive,texturing, lubricating, colour imparting, etc. The ink can be designedto have a layered effect in conjunction with other layers of ink. Theink may have a reactive “two-part” combination such as an epoxy orfiber-glass resin reactant.

The ink control can include ink pressure, flow, and volume, considervein diameter and have viscosity that effects pressure, flow, volume,etc. The rate of ink deposition can be considered and depth ofindentation as well as indention depth effecting surface area by suchindentation or penetration as it relates to a corresponding surface areacoverage and desired application of ink thereto.

Other aspects of needle control, ink control, carriage control, andmarking creation are discussed herein and explained regarding to variousexamples and designs as well as the articles created thereby.

Other examples of software and/or hardware based modules are illustratedin FIG. 23.

Methods, computer systems, computer-storage media, and graphical userinterfaces are provided for controlling a needle-point pen, designingarticles, applying designs to article design, creating new articles andarticle assembly and manufacture methods.

Embodiments of the present invention relate to systems, methods,computer storage media, and interactive graphical user interfaces (GUIs)for, among other things, displaying and interacting with performancedata for a machine-learned model.

Accordingly, in one embodiment, the present invention is directed to oneor more computer-readable media having computer-executable instructionsembodied thereon that, when executed by a computing device, cause thecomputing device to generate a graphical user interface (GUI) forvisualizing the design and manufacture of an article using, at least inpart a marking tool such as the needle-point pen disclosed herein. TheGUI comprises an item representation display area that displays aplurality of item representations corresponding to a plurality of itemsprocessed by the machine-learned model.

In another embodiment, the present invention is directed to one or morecomputer-readable media having computer-executable instructions embodiedthereon that, when executed by a computing device (e.g. a servercomputer, carriage computer, needle-point printer computer, artistcomputer, article design and/or assembly computer, etc.), cause thecomputing device to perform a methods, visualizations and manipulationsof digital models and manufacturing and marking control procedures asdisclosed herein. Additionally, the method includes displaying each ofthe training item representations corresponding to the each of theplurality of training items and displaying each of the test itemrepresentations corresponding to the each of the plurality of test itemson a graphical user interface (GUI) to train the artist or articledesigner to use the software to design the article and/or control theneedle-point printer.

An example of an operating environment in which embodiments of thepresent invention may be implemented is described below in order toprovide a general context for various aspects of the present invention.An exemplary operating environment for implementing embodiments of thepresent invention is a computing device. The computing device is but oneexample of a suitable computing environment and is not intended tosuggest any limitation as to the scope of use or functionality ofembodiments of the invention. Neither should the computing device beinterpreted as having any dependency or requirement relating to any oneor combination of components illustrated.

Embodiments of the invention may be described in the general context ofcomputer code or machine-usable instructions, including computer-usableor computer-executable instructions such as program modules, beingexecuted by a computer or other machine, such as a personal dataassistant, a smart phone, a tablet PC, or other handheld device.Generally, program modules including routines, programs, objects,components, data structures, and the like, refer to code that performsparticular tasks or implements particular abstract data types.Embodiments of the invention may be practiced in a variety of systemconfigurations, including hand-held devices, consumer electronics,general-purpose computers, more specialty computing devices, etc.Embodiments of the invention may also be practiced in distributedcomputing environments where tasks are performed by remote-processingdevices that are linked through a communications network. In adistributed computing environment, program modules may be located inboth local and remote computer storage media including memory storagedevices.

The computing device can include a bus that directly or indirectlycouples the following devices: a memory, one or more processors, one ormore presentation components, one or more input/output (I/O) ports, oneor more I/O components, and a power supply. The bus represents what maybe one or more busses (such as an address bus, data bus, or combinationthereof). One may consider a presentation component, such as a displaydevice, to be an I/O component. Also, processors have memory.Distinction is not made between such categories as “workstation,”“server,” “laptop,” “hand-held device,” etc., as all are contemplatedwithin the scope of a “computing device.”

An example of a computing device typically includes a variety ofcomputer-readable media. Computer-readable media may be any availablemedia that is accessible by the computing device and includes bothvolatile and nonvolatile media, and removable and non-removable media.Computer-readable media comprises computer storage media andcommunication media; computer storage media excludes signals per se.Computer storage media includes volatile and nonvolatile, removable andnon-removable media implemented in any method or technology for storageof information such as computer-readable instructions, data structures,program modules or other data. Computer storage media includes, but isnot limited to, RAM, ROM, EEPROM, flash memory or other memorytechnology, CD-ROM, digital versatile disks (DVD) or other optical diskstorage, magnetic cassettes, magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage orother magnetic storage devices, or any other medium which can be used tostore the desired information and which can be accessed by computingdevice. Communication media, on the other hand, embodiescomputer-readable instructions, data structures, program modules orother data in a modulated data signal such as a carrier wave or othertransport mechanism and includes any information delivery media. Theterm “modulated data signal” means a signal that has one or more of itscharacteristics set or changed in such a manner as to encode informationin the signal. By way of example, and not limitation, communicationmedia includes wired media such as a wired network or direct-wiredconnection, and wireless media such as acoustic, RF, infrared and otherwireless media. Combinations of any of the above should also be includedwithin the scope of computer-readable media.

The memory includes computer-storage media in the form of anycombination of volatile and nonvolatile memory. The memory may beremovable, non-removable, or a combination thereof. Exemplary hardwaredevices include solid-state memory, hard drives, optical-disc drives,and the like. The computing device includes one or more processors thatread data from various entities such as the memory or the I/Ocomponents. The presentation component(s) present data indications to auser or other device. Exemplary presentation components include adisplay device, speaker, printing component, vibrating component, andthe like.

The I/O ports allow the computing device to be logically coupled toother devices including the I/O components, some of which may be builtin. Illustrative components include a microphone, joystick, game pad,satellite dish, scanner, printer, wireless device, and the like.Interaction with the I/O components may be via voice, touch, gestures,keyboard, a pointing device such as a mouse, and the like.

Furthermore, although the term “server” is often used herein, it will berecognized that this term may also encompass a search service, a searchextender service, a Web browser, a cloud server, a set of one or moreprocesses distributed on one or more computers, one or more stand-alonestorage devices, a set of one or more other computing or storagedevices, a combination of one or more of the above, and the like.

A data store stored on a computer readable medium of a computing deviceis described. The data store includes control parameters disclosedherein. For example, the computer executable instructions stored on thememory can include control instructions for controlling the needle, ink,carriage, etc. The stored control parameters can include needle controlparameters, oscillation control parameters, ink control parameters,carriage control parameters, material ductility measurements or storedparameters, optically sensed parameters, ink reservoir and colourcontrol parameters, material control parameters, texture sensing andsurface sensing parameters, an article design model, a mark applicationlayer model, image enhancement parameters, resizing parameters,shape-fitting, design versions, display considerations, rotation models,effects, and other design characteristics of an artistic rendition.Thus, when stored as a data structure on a computer readable medium,RAM, and/or ROM the medium structure may be moved, accessed, instructionfollowed, written, rewritten, copied in its tangible form as anon-transitory replication of magnetic, optical, and other media, etc.

Some of the methods and apparatus disclosed herein include needle-basedprinting with simultaneous or near-simultaneous application of a dye,ink, treatment, or other fluid or solution along with needlepenetration. The methods and apparatus can further include otheradditional independent acts of stamping, cutting, etching, and dying—sometimes simultaneously with needle-based indelible printing.

Many embodiments disclosed herein include computer-aided control ofneedle and ink parameters as well as two and/or three dimensionalmovement of an electro-mechanically repositionable carriage supportingone or more reciprocating needles and one or more ink/fluid reservoirs.

A liquid-penetration property of leather can also understood ordetermined to control a pressure at which a needle inserts ink into theleather. The pressure can be needle pressure and/or independent inkpressure. Based on a pressure of the needle against the leather, a depthof the penetration of the needle into the leather can also be controlledor varied. Other materials than leather can be used such as clay, wood,metal, plastic, fake leather (e.g. “pleather”), ceramic, foam, etc.

A material property of the material (e.g. wood or leather) can alsocontrolled or be varied by applying a liquid or treatment to thematerial to decrease a resistance to penetration property of thematerial. The variation of a mechanical property of the material can bemodified in a two-dimensional direction. For example, a liquid (oramount of liquid) can be applied to a first location of the material toreduce the material's resistance to penetration by the needle at thatlocation. A duration under which the material is allow to “soak” underapplication of the liquid can also vary to the material's resistance topenetration. And the application of the liquid to different locations ofthe material can be different and selected at the different locations ofthe material with different “soak-times.” Thus, a material propertyincluding resistance to penetration or puncture resistance can betwo-dimensionally varied across a length and width of a material byapplication of a different amount(s) or time-variable (e.g. “soak” time)at different locations of the material.

The liquid applied to the material can include water. The liquid appliedto the material can also include a petroleum-derived liquid or solution.The liquid applied to the material can include a solvent. The liquid caninclude a dissolvent for breaking down a compound of the material forsubsequent penetration by the needle and insertion of theink/dye/solution into the material. The dye may also be a combination ofthese liquids with a dye to further disperse the fluid/dye/pigmentwithin the material at the depth of penetration or according to otherneedle and ink (e.g. fluid and/or solution) control.

Prior to impact of the reciprocating needle with the material (e.g.leather or wood), a ductility of the material can be sensed. Theductility of the material can be sensed by a pressure sensor makingphysical contact at a location of the material. The ductility, orresistance to penetration, property of the material can be used todetermine a pressure applied to the fluid applying needle. As previouslydiscussed, the depth of the insertion of the ink in the material canalso be controlled based on both the resistance to pressure or ductilityof the material sensed and the pressure applied to the needle duringapplication of the ink at least partially penetrating the material. Asurface coat of fluid may also be applied prior to and/or simultaneouswith indentation by the needle.

In addition, the control of the depth of penetration of the needle, anangle at which the needle is pressed/reciprocated against the materialcan also be controlled and varied across two perpendicular directions.For example the needle can be reciprocated at a polar angle to anX-horizontal direction (e.g. left direction) and/or a polar angle to ahorizontal Y-direction (e.g. right direction) relative to theperpendicular Z-direction (e.g. vertical or up/down direction) about apoint and radius from which the polar angle is measured. And, this anglewith respect to the X, Y, and Z directions of pressure and reciprocationof the needle against the material can be varied, controlled in-time,and selectable in amplitude, velocity, impact characteristic (whereforce applied goes to infinity or results in material (e.g. plastic)deformation) over the surface of the material.

A number of needles impacting the material (e.g. wood, clay, ceramic orleather) and at least partially penetrating the material can also beselected over the two dimensional penetration of the material by the oneor more needles, or a different type, width, sharpness, or shape ofneedle (or needle control method) may also be selected and used asdiscussed herein.

Moreover an amount of ink supplied to the needle (and/or materialsimultaneously with impact) can be selected and controlled based on thetype of needle or material. In addition, a property of the ink(s) itselfcan be controlled or made for the type of material. Where a material isrelatively hard or resistant to insertion, a dye solution can be usedthat includes a compound to chemically break-down the material inaddition to application of the dye/colourant. The compound can also bedesigned to control a dispersion of the ink within the material or reactto the material to create a varied or different appearance. Abio-reactive agent may also be included in the ink to react withbio-materials particular to bio-based materials such as leather andwood.

Thus, a method of needle-based printing to leather can include areciprocating needle having an ink delivery system supplying ink to thepenetrating needle during reciprocal impact with the leather.

Moreover, according to some embodiments disclosed herein, the dye/fluidcan be, or include, a medication which is delivered to a patient via thecontrolled application and reciprocation of the needle-point pen andfluidic flow and pressure/control as discussed herein. As disclosed, themedication may be “spread” about trans-, sub-, and/or intra-dermalapplication or a combination thereof (including skin, muscle,tissue/material characteristics, depth, etc. considerations) using theneedle-point pen. And, a controlled-release of the application ofmedicine (e.g. fluid or reactant or medicine release/dissolve/disperseattribute) or dispersive ink/medication property can be controlled basedon the depth to which it is injected/penetrated by the reciprocatingneedle and ink control properties into living (or dying) tissue.Moreover, the needle and/or medication/fluid delivery can be controlledin volume and characteristic extent to appropriately administer thefluid to the patient.

The ink and/or needle control can also consider an induced “scarring” ordepth attribute caused to live tissue. For example, where a scar tissuereleases medication slower (or faster) in-time, a scaring attribute canbe introduced to a living tissue upon needle and/or fluid control. Thus,the tissue/material parameters can be intentionally modified based on anintentionally induced scarring technique. Similar techniques can beapplied to marking of “living” wood and/or other bio-living materials asdiscussed hereinafter in addition to dead wood, leather, ceramic, etc.

Similarly, bio-acceptable creation of living tissue can be created (orurged to be created) by the dye/fluid introduced into a living bodyaccording to the embodiments disclosed herein. The introduction ofbio-compatible or living tissue promoting growth components can beintroduced, or specially introduced in a distributed manner) accordingto needle and ink/fluid/medication control as discussed herein.

Thus, the fluid can be distributed in two—or three dimensional space tocontrol release to the tissue or other material. Similarly, the tissueand/or other material can be modified by fluidic and/or needle control(e.g. due to scarring and/or location adjacent to previous penetrationsand/or blood conduit (e.g., artery and/or vein locality and blood flowdirection—e.g. to, or away from, the heart, organ, and/or tumor) orintroduce solutions or particle impregnated suspensions there-into.

In addition to “injection” or depth-selective indention mechanicalproperties and depth-dependent marking, the inkinjected/applied/dispersed can have a depth-sensible presence. Forexample, a sensible marker can be introduced into the ink. The sensiblemarker can be related to wavelength, magnetism, and/or radio activity. Asensor can be “tuned” to one or more depths and the existence of thepropagating dye (for whatever reason) can be sensed at a selected depth.

For example, regarding magnetism, a depth of magnetism can be sensed bya depth-calibrated magnetic sensing head. Similarly, a radio-activedepth or material “density” can be sensed via sonar. A liquidity can besensed, and a permeability to electro-magnetic waves can be sensed.

Thus, according to some embodiments, the dispersion of dye within amaterial can be sensed and digitally characterized/modelled by injectionthereto into the material. And, this dispersion and/or propagatedlocation and/or dilution can be sensed by magnetic, optic, radioactive,sound, density, wave propagation, or other means. For example, amagnetic head may be tuned to a material depth. Similarly, sonar andradioactivity depth can be sensed to density and intensity as well aschange (time increase or decrease) as to properties. Optical pick-up canbe tuned to frequency as in the case of “Blue-ray” dual-layer datareading and writing. Thus, understanding of compound propagation withina material (e.g. organic, inorganic, living, dead, dying, etc.materials) can be sensed and used to control further (in-time, volume,pressure, extent, movement, location, and/or other needle control and/or. . . ) application of the dye/needle control and/or sensing control andcollaboration between all of the parameters disclosed herein.

For example, where a depth fluidic character can be sensedpost-application by a needle-point pen, this fluidic characteristic canbe used to control subsequent needle and/or dye delivery characteristicsincluding any of the needle and/or dye control parameters disclosedherein. Sensor location and feedback can also be considered.

Deposition of a magnetic or magnetizable material can also be applied bythe needle-point pen. For example, a hard disk drive (HDD), hard disk,hard drive or fixed disk is a data storage device used for storing andretrieving digital information using one or more rigid (“hard”) rapidlyrotating disks (platters) coated with magnetic material. The plattersare paired with magnetic heads arranged on a moving actuator arm, whichread and write data to the platter surfaces. Data is accessed in arandom-access manner, meaning that individual blocks of data can bestored or retrieved in any order rather than sequentially. HDDs retainstored data even when powered off.

Using the needle-point pen, magnetic material (e.g. magnetic ink orsuspension of magnetic material) can be deposited on a surface, withinan indention, and/or at a particular depth in a material. Data can beread and written to the magnetic material similar to the platter of ahard drive. This magnetic stored data can be saved even when there is nopower supplied to the magnetic material.

Further, different data can be stored at differently deposited depths ofmagnetic material and the head that reads and writes to the magneticmaterial can be “tuned” to read and write to the magnetic materialdeposited at different depths. Moreover intermittent layers of materialcan be laid over a magnetic material deposited material and then anotherlayer of magnetic material may be layer over that material at a relative“depth” that is above the first layer of “printed” magnetic material.The needle of the needle-point pen can also be controlled to deposit themagnetic material within the material such that the magnetic material isdeposited at a particular depth within the material and the magneticmaterial can be read or written to by a magnetically tuned head similarto the magnetic head of a hard drive.

Other needle characteristics can be controlled as to thickness of theneedle when depositing magnetic material on, or in, or in at a desireddepth of, a material. For example, multiple heads of different widths,depths, etc. can be used as disclosed herein. Use of thinner widthneedles can increase the data density of magnetic material deposited andincrease discrete amounts of data held thereby.

Conductive ink, and printed circuitry can also be deposited within amaterial using the needle-point pen at different depths within thematerial. And, multiple layers of material may be overlaid and furtherprinted upon or within using the needle-point pen and inks of varioussuspensions and chemistry whether magnetic, conductive, capacitive,reactive, etc.

Moreover, sensors may be printed on or within the material. Examples ofsensors that can be printed include magnetic sensors, strain gauges(resistors that change with deformation), potentiometers, meters,electrostatic sensors, etc. which can be disposed within the materialusing the needle-point pen. And, manufacture of printed structures canbe even more available and accurate using the computer andelectro-mechanical positioning and manufacturing processes discussedherein. Other uses and benefits of the needle-point pen are discussedhereinafter.

As another ink example, a contrast agent fluid can be used by theneedle-point pen for internal sensing applications. MRI contrast agents,for example, are a group of contrast media used to improve thevisibility of internal body structures in magnetic resonance imaging(MRI). The most commonly used compounds for contrast enhancement aregadolinium-based. Such MRI contrast agents shorten the relaxation timesof atoms within body tissues following oral or intravenousadministration. In MRI scanners, sections of the body are exposed to avery strong magnetic field causing primarily the hydrogen nuclei(“spins”) of water in tissues to be polarized in the direction of themagnetic field. An intense radiofrequency pulse is applied that tips themagnetization generated by the hydrogen nuclei in the direction of thereceiver coil where the spin polarization can be detected. Randommolecular rotational oscillations matching the resonance frequency ofthe nuclear spins provide the “relaxation” mechanisms that bring the netmagnetization back to its equilibrium position in alignment with theapplied magnetic field. The magnitude of the spin polarization detectedby the receiver is used to form the MR image but decays with acharacteristic time constant known as the T1 relaxation time. Waterprotons in different tissues have different T1 values, which is one ofthe main sources of contrast in MR images. A contrast agent usuallyshortens, but in some instances increases, the value of T1 of nearbywater protons thereby altering the contrast in the image. Thus, acontrast agent can be imbedded, injected, or otherwise disposed intissue of an animal using the needle-point pen.

Similarly, RFID material deposited using the needle-point pen.Radio-frequency identification (RFID) is the wireless use ofelectromagnetic fields to transfer data, for the purposes ofautomatically identifying and tracking tags attached to objects. Thetags contain electronically stored information. Some tags are powered byelectromagnetic induction from magnetic fields produced near the reader.Some types collect energy from the interrogating radio waves and act asa passive transponder. Other types have a local power source such as abattery and may operate at hundreds of meters from the reader. Unlike abarcode, the tag does not necessarily need to be within line of sight ofthe reader and may be embedded in the tracked object. RFID is one methodfor Automatic Identification and Data Capture (AIDC).

RFID tags are used in many industries. For example, an RFID tag attachedto an automobile during production can be used to track its progressthrough the assembly line; RFID-tagged pharmaceuticals can be trackedthrough warehouses; and implanting RFID microchips in livestock and petsallows positive identification of animals. RFID tags can be attached tocash, clothing, and possessions, or implanted in animals and people andimbedded and/or printed on such objects and beings using theneedle-point pen.

One skilled in the art will appreciate that, for this and otherprocesses and methods disclosed herein, the functions performed in theprocesses and methods may be implemented in differing order.Furthermore, the outlined steps and operations are only provided asexamples, and some of the steps and operations may be optional, combinedinto fewer steps and operations, or expanded into additional steps andoperations without detracting from the essence of the disclosedembodiments.

The present disclosure is not to be limited in terms of the particularembodiments described in this application, which are intended asillustrations of various aspects. Many modifications and variations canbe made without departing from its spirit and scope, as will be apparentto those skilled in the art. Functionally equivalent methods andapparatuses within the scope of the disclosure, in addition to thoseenumerated herein, will be apparent to those skilled in the art from theforegoing descriptions. Such modifications and variations are intendedto fall within the scope of the appended claims. The present disclosureis to be limited only by the terms of the appended claims, along withthe full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled. It isto be understood that this disclosure is not limited to particularmethods, reagents, compounds compositions or biological systems, whichcan, of course, vary. It is also to be understood that the terminologyused herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodimentsonly, and is not intended to be limiting.

With respect to the use of substantially any plural and/or singularterms herein, those having skill in the art can translate from theplural to the singular and/or from the singular to the plural as isappropriate to the context and/or application. The varioussingular/plural permutations may be expressly set forth herein for sakeof clarity.

It will be understood by those within the art that, in general, termsused herein, and especially in the appended claims (e.g., bodies of theappended claims) are generally intended as “open” terms (e.g., the term“including” should be interpreted as “including but not limited to,” theterm “having” should be interpreted as “having at least,” the term“includes” should be interpreted as “includes but is not limited to,”etc.). It will be further understood by those within the art that if aspecific number of an introduced claim recitation is intended, such anintent will be explicitly recited in the claim, and in the absence ofsuch recitation no such intent is present. For example, as an aid tounderstanding, the following appended claims may contain usage of theintroductory phrases “at least one” and “one or more” to introduce claimrecitations. However, the use of such phrases should not be construed toimply that the introduction of a claim recitation by the indefinitearticles “a” or “an” limits any particular claim containing suchintroduced claim recitation to embodiments containing only one suchrecitation, even when the same claim includes the introductory phrases“one or more” or “at least one” and indefinite articles such as “a” or“an” (e.g., “a” and/or “an” should be interpreted to mean “at least one”or “one or more”); the same holds true for the use of definite articlesused to introduce claim recitations. In addition, even if a specificnumber of an introduced claim recitation is explicitly recited, thoseskilled in the art will recognize that such recitation should beinterpreted to mean at least the recited number (e.g., the barerecitation of “two recitations,” without other modifiers, means at leasttwo recitations, or two or more recitations). Furthermore, in thoseinstances where a convention analogous to “at least one of A, B, and C,etc.” is used, in general such a construction is intended in the senseone having skill in the art would understand the convention (e.g., “asystem having at least one of A, B, and C” would include but not belimited to systems that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and Btogether, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A, B, and Ctogether, etc.). In those instances where a convention analogous to “atleast one of A, B, or C, etc.” is used, in general such a constructionis intended in the sense one having skill in the art would understandthe convention (e.g., “a system having at least one of A, B, or C” wouldinclude but not be limited to systems that have A alone, B alone, Calone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A,B, and C together, etc.). It will be further understood by those withinthe art that virtually any disjunctive word and/or phrase presenting twoor more alternative terms, whether in the description, claims, ordrawings, should be understood to contemplate the possibilities ofincluding one of the terms, either of the terms, or both terms. Forexample, the phrase “A or B” will be understood to include thepossibilities of “A” or “B” or “A and B.”

In addition, where features or aspects of the disclosure are describedin terms of Markush groups, those skilled in the art will recognize thatthe disclosure is also thereby described in terms of any individualmember or subgroup of members of the Markush group.

As will be understood by one skilled in the art, for any and allpurposes, such as in terms of providing a written description, allranges disclosed herein also encompass any and all possible subrangesand combinations of subranges thereof. Any listed range can be easilyrecognized as sufficiently describing and enabling the same range beingbroken down into at least equal halves, thirds, quarters, fifths,tenths, etc. As a non-limiting example, each range discussed herein canbe readily broken down into a lower third, middle third and upper third,etc. As will also be understood by one skilled in the art all languagesuch as “up to,” “at least,” and the like include the number recited andrefer to ranges which can be subsequently broken down into subranges asdiscussed above. Finally, as will be understood by one skilled in theart, a range includes each individual member. Thus, for example, a grouphaving 1-3 cells refers to groups having 1, 2, or 3 cells. Similarly, agroup having 1-5 cells refers to groups having 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 cells,and so forth.

From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that various embodiments ofthe present disclosure have been described herein for purposes ofillustration, and that various modifications may be made withoutdeparting from the scope and spirit of the present disclosure.Accordingly, the various embodiments disclosed herein are not intendedto be limiting, with the true scope and spirit being indicated by thefollowing claims. All references recited herein are incorporated hereinby specific reference in their entirety.

What is claimed is:
 1. A marking machine, comprising: a barrel; a needle movably disposed within an inner channel of the barrel, the needle having a tip and an elongate shaft; a driving unit coupled to the needle and providing a driving actuation to the needle, the driving actuation causing the needle to reciprocate within the barrel between one or more extended and a retracted positions; the needle being designed to at least partially insert ink into a material; an ink reservoir supplying ink to the needle for at least partial insertion into the material; and a computing device controlling the needle actuation and ink supply to the needle for controlling marking of the material with the needle and ink.
 2. A marking machine according to claim 1, the computing device including: a processor; and memory, the processor executing instructions stored by the memory causing the processor to control the actuation of the needle.
 3. A marking machine according to claim 2, the processor accessing needle control parameters stored on the memory, the needle control parameters specifying an oscillation frequency of the actuation of the needle.
 4. A marking machine according to claim 3, the needle control parameters specifying different oscillation frequencies for actuation of the needle based on different types of needles used by the marking machine.
 5. A marking machine according to claim 3, the needle control parameters specifying different oscillation frequencies for actuation of the needle based on different materials marked by the marking machine.
 6. A marking machine according to claim 3, the needle control parameters specifying different needle control parameters based characteristics of leather.
 7. A marking machine according to claim 6, wherein the leather includes cow-hide.
 8. A marking machine according to claim 1, wherein the material is human tissue.
 9. A marking machine according to claim 3, the needle control parameters including at least two angles at which the needle reciprocates relative to a surface of the material and the angles are not-perpendicular to the surface of the material.
 10. A marking machine according to claim 1, the computing device controlling the pressure of ink supply to the needle.
 11. A marking machine according to claim 1, the computing device controlling the pressure of the needle applied to the material during oscillation.
 12. A marking machine according to claim 1, further comprising a two dimensionally positionable carriage supporting and positioning at least the barrel and needle.
 13. A marking machine according to claim 1, further comprising a three dimensionally positionable carriage supporting and positioning at least the barrel and needle.
 14. A method for needle printing in cow-hide leather, comprising: providing the marking machine of claim 1, the material being cow-hide leather; and printing in in the cow hide leather using the marking machine, wherein the cow-hide leather includes dead cow hide and the needle is selected to be sufficiently ridged and thick to at least partially penetrate the ink into the cow hide leather at a selected and controllable depth of the cow hide.
 15. A two-dimensional printing machine for needle-point printing in clay, comprising: the marking machine of claim 1; a carriage supporting the housing of the printing machine, the carriage including at least two dimensional articulating means for positioning the carriage at multiple positions in at least two different directions; a carriage control processor; and an electrical interconnect between the carriage control processor and the carriage for signal communication between the carriage control processor and the carriage to control the operation of the needle and ink.
 16. A marking machine according to claim 1, further comprising a needle pressure sensor sensing a pressure applied to the material by the needle, the computing device controlling the amount of pressure applied to the needle based on the sensed needle pressure to the material.
 17. A method for marking an article using the marking machine according to claim 1, where the material is part of an article and the article is footwear, an artist provides an artistic design to a server and an article designer applies this design to unassembled parts of the footwear including the artist's design applied to the tongue, heel, sides, and/or toe of the footwear, the marking machine automatically applying the design using the needle and ink to the tongue, heel, sides, and/or toe of the footwear for subsequent assembly of the shoe having the design applied thereto.
 18. A method of manufacturing a magnetic or conductive circuit using the marking machine according to claim 1, comprising: printing a magnetic or electronically conductive material using the marking machine of claim 1 at a predetermined depth within a material.
 19. A method of imprinting conductive ink into a material using a needle-point pen, the needle point pen comprising: a barrel; a needle movably disposed within an inner channel of the barrel, the needle having a tip and an elongate shaft; a driving unit coupled to the needle and providing a driving actuation to the needle, the driving actuation causing the needle to reciprocate within the barrel between one or more extended and a retracted positions; the needle being designed to at least partially insert conductive ink into the material, wherein the conductive ink imprinted into the material has variable resistance.; a conductive ink reservoir supplying the conductive ink to the needle for at least partial insertion into the material; and a computing device controlling the needle actuation and the conductive ink supply to the needle.
 20. A method of imprinting magnetizable ink into a material using a needle point pen comprising: a barrel; a needle movably disposed within an inner channel of the barrel, the needle having a tip and an elongate shaft; a driving unit coupled to the needle and providing a driving actuation to the needle, the driving actuation causing the needle to reciprocate within the barrel between one or more extended and a retracted positions; the needle being designed to at least partially insert magnetizable ink into the material; a magnetizable ink reservoir supplying the magnetizable ink to the needle for at least partial insertion into the material, wherein the magnetizable ink contains magnetizable particles suspended in the ink; and a computing device controlling the needle actuation and the conductive ink supply to the needle. 